Broncos corral courageous Cowboys

The Brisbane Broncos have defeated the North Queensland Cowboys 34-26 in front of a crowd of 20,148 in Townsville tonight. Brisbane led 24-8 at half time.

The Broncos opened the scoring in just the third minute, with Matt Gillett benefitting from a Ty Williams mistake.

The lead was extended in the 10th minute after a penalty goal to Corey Parker.

In the 18th minute the Cowboys hopes took a big dive when Jonathan Thurston was helped from the field with suspected ligament damage in his foot.

Brisbane made their lead 14-0 after Sam Thaiday put Israel Folau through a huge gap to score.

The Cowboys started to get themselves back into the match when they created an overlap for Ty Williams to score.

In the 31st minute there was a good fight, with Watts taking exception to tackle. James Tamou, Watts and Sam Thaiday were sin binned for taking part in the fight - Tamou lucky not to have been sent off for punching a Brisbane player in the back of the head. From the ensuing penalty the Cowboys collected two points to get the score back to 14-8.

Unfortunately, just as it looked as though the Cowboys were getting back into the game they rushed up on Lockyer on the last tackle, and with fewer players on the park there was plenty of space for Israel Folau to end up scoring.

The final try of the half for the Broncos was completely avoidable, after Carl Webb put them on attack. Webb's attempted high tackle on a Broncos player dislodged the ball, which was passed to Lockyer to score under the posts for a 24-8 halftime lead.

The Cowboys looked like they might have a chance with a try to Scott Bolton eight minutes into the second half.

Brisbane responded just five minutes later. Following a great Brisbane defensive set Matt Bowen's kick rebounded into touch 10 out from his own line, and from the scrum Brisbane moved the ball to Yow Yeh who scored.

The Cowboys produced some brave defence late in the game, taking some time to concede after Brisbane had multiple sets attacking their line. Matt Gillett eventually claimed his double.

Leeson Ah Mau and Dane Hogan scored their first tries in first grade in the last few minutes to make the final score a respectable 34-26.

Match Details
North Queensland Cowboys 26 were defeated by Brisbane Broncos 34
National Rugby League - NRL - Round 22 - Friday August 6, 2010 7:35pm
Venue: Dairy Farmers Stadium
Referee: Ben Cummins and Gerard Sutton
Video Referee: Tim Mander
Touch Judges: David Abood and Gavin Reynolds
Crowd: 20,148
Halftime: North Queensland Cowboys 8 Brisbane Broncos 24

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Israel Folau (2 Tries)
2 Points - Matt Gillett (2 Tries)
1 Point - Arana Taumata

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (26)
Tries: Ty Williams, Dane Hogan, Scott Bolton, Leeson Ah Mau
Conversions: Ashley Graham (4/4)
Penalty Goals: Ashley Graham (1/1)

BRISBANE BRONCOS (34)
Tries: Darren Lockyer, Matt Gillett (2), Jharal Yow Yeh, Israel Folau (2)
Conversions: Corey Parker (4/5), Peter Wallace (0/1)
Penalty Goals: Corey Parker (1/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Tonight from Townsville the Cowboys host the Broncos. The Toyota Cup match tonight finished in a 20-20 draw after the Cowboys led 10-8 at halftime.
Lineups: The Cowboys are 1-17, for the Broncos Winterstein is out and is replaced on the wing by Gillett, and Ben T'eo makes a return to the second row.
1 min: The Broncos kick off!
3 min: TRY
TRY Brisbane Broncos
Ty Williams loses the ball, Wallace picks it up and unloads to Gillett who runs through several tackles to score. Conversion by Corey Parker successful.
Brisbane Broncos 6-0
6 min: The Cowboys let a bomb bounce and struggle to get out of their own end.
7 min: Bowen makes a fortuitous skillful escape from the in-goal.
9 min: The Cowboys let another bomb bounce, and are penalised for taking a Broncos player off the chase. The Broncos will kick for goal.
10 min: PENALTY GOAL
PENALTY GOAL Brisbane Broncos
Penalty goal attempt by Corey Parker successful.
Brisbane Broncos 8-0
12 min: Willie Tonga loses the ball coming out of his own end. Broncos on attack from 20 out.
13 min: Lockyer drops it cold on the first play.
13 min: Matt Scott makes a half break on the first play off the scrum.
14 min: Cowboys get a penalty to go on attack.
15 min: Brisbane have to no problem repelling the Cowboys and easily work it out of their own end.
16 min: Cowboys put together a good set of six, but they throw a forward pass on the last tackle.
18 min: INJURY - Thurston injured and is being taken from the field with a leg injury. Replays show his ankle being twisted taking a tackle.
20 min: Broncos on attack off a penalty.
22 min: TRY
TRY Brisbane Broncos
Thaiday gets the ball and steps before passing to Folau who walks through a huge gap to score. Conversion attempt by Corey Parker successful.
Brisbane Broncos 14-0
24 min: Yow Yeh does well not to fall over the sideline catching the kickoff. Broncos get a penalty a play later.
25 min: INJURY UPDATE - Thurston has a suspected broken hip.
26 min: Watts briefly killed by a high tackle and the Cowboys get a penalty. McGuire goes on report for the tackle.
27 min: TRY
TRY North Queensland Cowboys
The Cowboys move the ball right and get an overlap for Ty Williams to score. Conversion attempt by Ashley Graham successful off the upright.
Brisbane Broncos 14-6
30 min: Cowboys now producing some decent attacking football. Brisbane let a bomb bounce and are lucky to come up with possession.
31 min: BIFF - Big fight on here!
31 min: SIN BIN
McGuire gives away a penalty and Watts gets up swinging. Watts ends up in the sin bin for his efforts.
31 min: SIN BIN
Thaiday binned for his part in the fight.
31 min: SIN BIN
James Tamou is sent to the sin bin as well.
32 min: PENALTY GOAL Northern Storm
PENALTY GOAL North Queensland Cowboys
Penalty goal attempt by Ashley Graham successful.
Brisbane Broncos 14-8
35 min: Cowboys looking far better now, a good set after the goal and Bowen finds touch inside the 10.
36 min: TRY
The Cowboys rush up on Lockyer on the last, and with only 11 players on the field it was always going to end badly. The Broncos keep the ball alive 50 metres out and Folau scores.
Brisbane Broncos 18-8
38 min: Carl Webb concedes possibly the dumbest penalty of the year, pushing over a Broncos player attempting to play the ball.
40 min: VIDEO REF - For a Broncos try...
40 min: TRY
TRY Brisbane Broncos
Anderson judged to lose the ball backwards after having copped a high tackle from Carl Webb, Brisbane recover the ball and pass to Lockyer who scores untouched. Conversion attempt by Corey Parker successful.
Brisbane Broncos 24-8
40 min: Half time, and Brisbane take a comfortable 16 point lead over the Cowboys. Cowboys are missing Thurston with a suspected broken foot. Not the highest quality first half, but definitely entertaining.
40 min: Newer reports suggesting Thurston has ligament damage.
40 min: Back underway at Dairy Farmers!
41 min: Brisbane lose the ball on the second tackle.
42 min: Yow Yeh unable to get back into the field of play and the Cowboys retain possession.
44 min: Yow Yeh comfortably fields a cross kick from Bowen and the Broncos hold out.
46 min: Thaiday loses the ball with Brisbane on attack.
47 min: Cowboys on attack off a penalty.
48 min: TRY
TRY North Queensland Cowboys
Great try! Willie Mason bounces off three tacklers and offloads to Watts who finds Bolton out wide to score. Conversion attempt by Ashley Graham successful.
Brisbane Broncos 24-14
50 min: Aaron Payne and Matt Scott conspire to give away a line drop out from the restart.
51 min: Cowboys defence hold out.
52 min: Bowen forced to kick 10 out from his own line, he kicks the ball into a Brisbane player ruled not to have played at it and the ball dribbles into touch with no gain in ground and Brisbane go on attack from 10 out.
53 min: TRY
TRY Brisbane Broncos
Cowboys and their fans very unhappy here. Broncos move the ball wide from the scrum to Yow Yeh who scores. Conversion attempt by Corey Parker successful.
Brisbane Broncos 30-14
59 min: Matt Bowen has almost pulled off the play of the season! He saves a 40/20 and his momentum carries him over the fence on the sideline, then he somehow manages to get back to the ball in the in goal and is only just barely tackled for a line drop out.
61 min: Thaiday makes another error on attack.
62 min: Aaron Payne goes close to the line and is penalised for a double movement despite not actually getting the ball to the line. He did pass the ball off the ground after being held, but that wasn't what was called.
63 min: INJURY - Darren Lockyer now leaving the field with what appears to be a rib injury.
64 min: Great chase by Brisbane nets them a line drop out.
67 min: Tupou trapped in the in goal again.
68 min: INJURY - Peter Wallace now appears to be winded following a late tackle from Carl Webb.
68 min: Ashley Graham makes an important bat-down on a ball when the Broncos looked likely to score. More pressure coming though.
70 min: Brisbane about to get their fourth set in a row at the Cowboys line.
71 min: Another penalty to Brisbane late in the tackle count.
72 min: TRY
TRY Brisbane Broncos
It had to come, and Brisbane finally score out wide through Matt Gillett. Conversion attempt by Peter Wallace unsuccessful.
Brisbane Broncos 34-14
76 min: Cowboys on attack.
76 min: Cowboys on attack.
76 min: TRY
TRY North Queensland Cowboys
Ah Mau barges over off a penalty. Conversion attempt by Ashley Graham successful.
Brisbane Broncos 34-20
79 min: Another penalty will give the Cowboys one final attacking opportunity.
80 min: VIDEO REF - For a Cowboys try...
80 min: TRY
TRY North Queensland Cowboys
Hogan crashes over. Conversion attempt by Ashley Graham successful.
Brisbane Broncos 34-26
80 min: Full time, and Brisbane win 34-26.