Match Details
Match Date	18th Mar, 2005
Opponent	North Queensland
Result	Loss 12-24
Coach	Steven Folkes
Captain	Andrew Ryan
Venue	Townsville (Dairy Farmers Stadium)
Crowd	21,138
Referee	Steve Clark

The North Queensland Cowboys have scored an upset 24-12 win over the Bulldogs in the round two National Rugby League match in Townsville.

The Cowboys, who led the reigning NRL premiers 12-6 at half-time, scored four tries to two in what was the first Friday night match to be played north of Brisbane.

Josh Hannay, Matt Bowen, Carl Webb and Ty Williams scored the tries for the Cowboys while Hannay added two conversions and two penalties.

Gun rookie Sonny Bill Williams and winger Hazem El Masri scored the Bulldogs' tries.

El Masri added two conversions for the visitors.

It was the Cowboys first win of the NRL season, having lost last weekend's Queensland derby to the Brisbane Broncos 29-16.

The Cowboys made a positive start by scoring two tries to one in the first half.

They shot out to an early lead through Hannay when he kicked a ninth-minute penalty goal from in front of the goal posts.

Hannay added a converted try four minutes later, courtesy of some excellent lead-up play from five-eighth and former Bulldog Jonathan Thurston.

Camped inside the Bulldogs' half, Thurston used a dummy switch play to create space for Hannay, who angled his run perfectly to break the defensive line.

He got past two tacklers to score right of the goal posts before adding the extras.

Bowen scored the home side's second try to set up a 12-0 lead in the 21st minute.

Positioned near the half-way line, Bowen placed a deep kick in behind Matt Utai's left wing, the ball then trickling into the in-goal area.

Utai gathered the ball but lost possession when he was crunched in a tackle by Thurston, allowing Bowen to pick up the scraps and cross near the right-hand touchline.

While appearing shell-shocked, the Bulldogs responded 10 minutes later through Williams.

Left of the goal posts and inside the Cowboys' 22, the Bulldogs ran right to feed Williams who was lurking in the outside backs.

Williams got on the outside of Paul Bowman with relative ease and crossed for the Bulldogs first try, which was converted by El Masri.

With raining pouring down, El Masri's conversion closed the gap on the scoreboard to six points, which was held through to half-time.

The Cowboys started the second half as they did in the first, showing commitment in defence and outstanding confidence in attack.

They scored the first try of the second half through former Bronco Webb, who showed the form that earned him a Queensland State of Origin berth in 2001.

The blockbusting prop scored in the left-hand corner after a barnstorming 65-metre run to establish a 16-6 lead for the Cowboys.

Webb's try added urgency to the Bulldogs' play, who almost scored through Williams only minutes later.

Williams crossed the Cowboys' try line but his effort was disallowed after the video referee judged he had received the ball from in front of Tony Grimaldi, who had made contact with a pass from Brent Sherwin.

Hannay then extended the Cowboys' lead to 12 points with his second penalty goal in the 63rd minute.

The Cowboys confirmed the result with only seven minutes to play when impressive winger Ty Williams scored his side's fourth try.

Ten metres out from the Bulldogs' line and positioned centre field, the Cowboys ran left through reserve back Rod Jensen to create a one-man overlap.

Jensen drew his defender with a well-timed pass to Bowman, who used outstanding quick hands to transfer the ball to an unmarked Williams on the left flank.

Williams crossed unopposed to score and with Hannay's second conversion the Cowboys led 24-6.

The Bulldogs closed the Cowboys' winning margin to 12 points when El Masri scored a converted try in the 79th minute.

Source: www.abc.net.au

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