Canterbury steal forgettable game in Townsville

Canterbury have come back from 20 points to 6 down to win 22-20 in tonight's bottom of the table clash at Townsville in front of 11,742 fans.

Canterbury tried to spread the ball wide early but knocked it on second tackle, this allowed North Queensland to score first through Ty Williams from a nice tip on play. They doubled the dose through the other Williams, John after latching onto a kick just before the deadball line.

Ty Williams would struggle his way to the line to score his second try but John Williams wouldn't improve his kicking record making the scoreline 14 points to nothing after twenty minutes. Jamal Idris would bring the Bulldogs closer with a nice line run making it 14-6 at halftime.

The second half begun much how the first ended, with Canterbury knocking the football on within their first set. Though it would take until the 62nd minute when Matt Bowen put in a grubber which Luke Patten messed up to allow Grant Rovelli to pounce for a 20-6 lead and most thought the game.

Somehow though, North Queensland would allow Canterbury back into the game when Michael Ennis took advantage of a good run by David Stagg to dive over, the proceeding conversion made it an eight point game. Steve Turner would reduce the game to only a two point one when a Matt Bowen kick went wrong but it would be Josh Morris off the next set who provided the stage for Bryson Goodwin who kicked the winner and giving Canterbury a 22-20 victory.

Match Details
North Queensland Cowboys 20 were defeated by Canterbury Bulldogs 22
National Rugby League - NRL - Round 24 - Saturday August 21, 2010 7:30pm
Venue: Dairy Farmers Stadium
Referee: Jason Robinson and Gavin Reynolds
Video Referee: Phil Cooley
Touch Judges: Daniel Eastwood and Gavin West
Crowd: 11,742
Halftime: North Queensland Cowboys 14 Canterbury Bulldogs 6

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Michael Ennis (1 Try)
2 Points - David Stagg
1 Point - Ty Williams (2 Tries)

North Queensland Cowboys (20)
Tries: Ty Williams (2), Grant Rovelli, John Williams
Conversions: John Williams (2/4)

Canterbury Bulldogs (22)
Tries: Steve Turner, Jamal Idris, Josh Morris, Michael Ennis
Conversions: Bryson Goodwin (3/4)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Welcome to DairyFarmers Stadium for a bottom of the table clash between Canterbury and North Queensland. Canterbury caused a huge upset over the ladder leading Cowboys in the Toyota Cup, smashing them 50 points to 10.
Canterbury are unchanged one through to seventeen but there are several changes for North Queensland. Anthony Watts starts in place of Taumata, Webb swaps and starts in place of Mason with Jason Taumalolo making his debut on the bench.
1 min: North Queensland in this game will kick off.
4 min: TRY
Canterbury try to spread it early but are called back. North Queensland attack and recieve an early penalty, not opting for the goal. They play on and it's tipped on to Ty Williams to open the scoring tonight. Williams normally strikes them well but misses this one horribly.
North Queensland Cowboys 4-0
5 min: North Queensland doing all the talking with the footy early, forcing Luke Patten in goal for a dropout. Followed up with another penalty from Canterbury.
North Queensland could have their second, just checking grounding.
7 min: TRY
Both Williams for North Queensland have tries after they opt to kick it for John Williams who plants it down just before the deadball. He learns from his first kick and lands this one just over the crossbar.
North Queensland Cowboys 10-0
8 min: More possession for the Cowboys, Canterbury not disciplined at all.
10 min: Will Cowboys have their third, checking again with the video referee
10 min: No Try. John Williams touched the ball first, Canterbury will touch the ball for the first time since the kick-off.
12 min: Canterbury make some good progress through Ben Roberts who passes early to Morris who then tries to his winger but it lands in Cowboy hands.
13 min: Neither team showing any respect, North Queensland doubling up on errors. A forward pass then two penalties.
16 min: North Queensland have repelled one attack at their line but they have heaped more pressure on themselves with an error in their own twenty metre line.
17 min: Canterbury try to throw the ball wide but Idris lingers with his hands and knocks it on.
20 min: TRY
North Queensland all over them at the moment, Ty Williams latches on from a nice ball from Anthony Watts to score his second. John Williams isn't having much luck from the sideline missing another one.
North Queensland Cowboys 14-0
23 min: Some relief for Canterbury, a piggyback penalty from their own end.
25 min: You would swear North Queensland would be the team who are vying for the finals with their energy currently, Canterbury on the other hand looking lethargic. As I write that, Ben Roberts loses the football.
30 min: Leeson Ah Mau creeps too high for the referees liking and it's called high. Can Canterbury get on the scoreboard?
32 min: TRY
Idris runs a good line and refused to stop before he got the ball over the line, he does so and gets Canterbury off the mark. Goodwin kicks the conversion easily.
North Queensland Cowboys 14-6
35 min: Grant Rovelli is johnny on the spot to save a try after Canterbury just roll downfield without much effort.
37 min: Canterbury are attacking and try to put on a play, unfortunately they haven't perfected it yet and drop it. Further problems for the Bulldogs, conceding another penalty.
38 min: Willie Tonga has made friends with the sideline after being tossed over it, they look like old friends.
40 min: Canterbury again failing to use the ball effectively, allowing the Cowboys to put a kick through for both Williams but its too big.
40 min: Daniel Rauicava sends us to halftime with an error, unsurprisingly.
41 min: Both sides have made their way back onto the field and Canterbury will get the second half back underway.
44 min: Canterbury starting the second half the same way they finished the first, with an error.
47 min: Leeson Ah Mau makes a barnstorming run, giving the playmakers some space but they lose the ball trying to spread it wide.
49 min: North Queensland try to be too fancy from their own end, offering the Bulldogs a chance to camp down in their own end. Jamal Idris goes close but narrowly misses out, Canterbury shift it wide but Andrew Ryan throws it forward.
51 min: Idris shows some ball skills throwing an inside pass for Patten but he knocks it on.
53 min: Repeat set for North Queensland with Canterbury ruled to have touched the ball.
54 min: North Queensland try to play short passes at the line but they knock it on. Willie Tonga in other news is out for the game, with a goin injury and could be the season.
56 min: The game has died down now, both sides making some silly errors.
59 min: Bryson Goodwin almost produces a good effort to get back in-field but he is just propelled backwards. Repeat set North Queensland.
62 min: TRY
Matty Bowen puts a grubber in for himself, Patten tries to regather but makes a meal of it and Grant Rovelli is there to collect the spoils. John Williams has his easiest kick of the night and slots it easily.
North Queensland Cowboys 20-6
64 min: A rare repeat set for the Bulldogs from a dinky little grubber. Jason Taumalololo has made his first grade debut.
68 min: Nick Slyny nearly has a dream debut with an intercept but is brought down just before the line. Payne off the next play the ball, drops it cold.
70 min: TRY
Soft try there, David Stagg goes close but that allows Ennis from the next play the ball to dive over. Goodwin smashes it over, eight points the difference, can the Bulldogs do it?
North Queensland Cowboys 20-12
71 min: Ben Barba is deemed to have thrown a ball forward but it seemed it was backwards out of the hands.
Steve Turner could have brought the Bulldogs right back into this but checking if he went out.
74 min: TRY
Steve Turner latches onto a poor crossfield kick and launches downfield with the only opposition from Ty Williams who can't catch him. Goodwin pushes it just wide, still down by four.
North Queensland Cowboys 20-16
77 min: TRY
Canterbury have gone the length of the field, finished off by Josh Morris to bring the sides level. Bryson Goodwin has a kick to put them in front. He kicks it and the Bulldogs have hit the front.
Canterbury Bulldogs 22-20
80 min: Bryson Goodwin makes a good keepers save and the Bulldogs have stolen one here tonight.