A brilliant defensive display by the Cowboys has given them an important 20-6 win over the Roosters on Sunday afternoon at Magic Round.
Result
North Queensland Cowboys 18
Tries: Reuben Cotter 19th; Jack Gosiewski 45th; Chad Townsend 47th
Goals: Valentine Holmes 20th, 46th, 49th, 74th
Sydney Roosters 6
Tries: Angus Crichton 78th
Goals: Joseph Suaalii 79th
Report
The Roosters looked to solidify their spot in the top four when they took on the Cowboys who were looking to get their season back on track after a heavy loss to the Sharks last week.
The match kicked off to torrential rain, and the first chance came just two minutes in when Jaxson Paulo took off on a kick return and was only just dragged out by Valentine Holmes 25 metres from the try line. Both sides controlled the ball well early in tough conditions, and the Cowboys had the better field position but couldn’t capitalise.
The finally broke the deadlock in the 19th minute when Reuben Cotter crashed over next to the posts after receiving an offload from Coen Hess. Holmes converted and the score was 6-0. The Roosters started to win the territory battle and had numerous chances to hit back but a stout Cowboys defence continued to repel them.
The Cowboys had a chance late in the first half to extend their lead through a Chad Townsend field goal but it went wide right and the first half ended with just the one try on the board.
The Roosters were in control early in the second half but were once again unable to break through the Cowboys defence. North Queensland got the first points of the half in the 45th minute when Jack Gosiewski dived on a grubber that was fumbled by Egan Butcher in the in-goal, extending the lead to 12-0 after a Holmes conversion.
The Cowboys were in again just two minutes later when Murray Taulagi grabbed a Scott Drinkwater bomb, tiptoed along the sideline and offloaded back to Townsend on the inside, making it 18-0. The Roosters had a number of sets on the Cowboys’ line to try and get some points on the board but they continued to be turned away.
The Cowboys sealed the win with just over five minutes left when Holmes kicked a penalty goal after Cotter was taken high in a tackle by Joey Manu. The Roosters added a late try through Angus Crichton but it was too little, too late as North Queensland held on for a 20-6 victory.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS
Embed from Getty Images3 – Reuben Cotter (Cowboys)
2 – Valentine Holmes (Cowboys)
1 – Reece Robson (Cowboys)
