Cowboys? stampede skittles Sharks
in Townsville

Fulltime score: Round 13 North Queensland Cowboys 56 v Cronulla Sharks 14

Match summary: The North Queensland Cowboys have scored 34 unanswered points in the second half to thrash an error-ridden Cronulla Sharks outfit 56-14 at Dairy Farmers Stadium tonight.

The Cowboys looked impressive in the opening stages with forward Aaron Payne (pictured) scoring the first try after just three minutes. The Cowboys were in again in the 9th minute after the Sharks were guilty of handing over possession cheaply for the second time.

The Sharks struck back strongly with three tries in 11 minutes to grab a 14-12 lead 15 minutes before the break. But two more tries to the Cowboys saw the home side hold a handy 22-14 lead at half time.

The Cowboys extended their lead early in the second half with two tries, posting a 20 point lead after 47 minutes. What followed was a procession of scoring opportunities as the Cowboys backed up and seemingly passed at will, entertaining the large home crowd.

With full back Matt Bowen carving them up both sides of the ruck, and the Sharks battling to hang onto possession, the Cowboys ran in six second half tries and crossed for 10 tries in all.

Next week the Cowboys travel to Wollongong to take on the St George Illawarra Dragons.

The Sharks have a week to redeem themselves and next take on Wests Tigers at Campbelltown.

For Sharks? skipper Brett Kimmorley, it has been costly trip to Townsville. The combination of a poor kicking game, and being on the receiving end of a thrashing, may have severely diminished his chances for NSW selection in this month?s State of Origin II encounter.

Scorers: NTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS 56 Tries: Sing 2, Smith 2, Bowman 2, Payne, Webb, M Bowen, B Bowen Goals: Thurston 4/5, Smith 4/5 CRONULLA SHARKS 14 Tries: Vagana 2, Sullivan Goals: Covell 1/3

Dairy Farmers Stadium Referee: Paul Simpkins Half time: Cowboys 22-14

Live commentary: 0 min: A big crowd in Townsville this evening. Players getting ready to come on the field. Beaut conditions, around 19 degrees celsius.

Cowboys kick off and it's game on!

3 min: TRY - Cowboys. Aaron Payne runs at the line from short range and stretches the arm out enough to score. Follows a handling error from the Sharks' winger David Simmons. Jonathon Thurston converts from almost in front. Cowboys 6-0

9 min: TRY - Cowboys. Carl Webb at second receiver from the scrum bursts through the line, running 20 metres to score in good position. Cowboys punishing the Sharks following another handover with Paul Gallen losing possession. Conversion successful. Cowboys 12-0

13 min: TRY - Sharks. Nigel Vagana scores, getting a cut above the eye in the process. The Sharks striking back following some great lead up work down the right flank. Wide conversion attempt from Luke Covell never looks like getting there. Cowboys 12-4

NEWS - Cowboys re-start and kick out on the full!

18 min: NEWS - A big bust down the right side from winger David Simmons who runs some 50 metres before being brought down deep in Cowboys' territory. Unfortunately for Sharks' supporters, Simmons loses the ball while being tackled.

21 min: TRY - Sharks. Vagana gets a double after yet another break down the right side, Simmons into space before finding Vagana in support on the inside. Covell's conversion 12 metres wide of the posts is OK. Cowboys 12-10

24 min: TRY - Sharks. Michael Sullivan scores in the left corner following an ordinary Sharks' kick and some poor defence from the Cowboys. Quite a turnaround from the opening minutes. Conversion attempt from Covell is a shocker. Sharks 14-12

32 min: NO TRY - Sharks denied when Sullivan loses the ball and is then held up after going himself.

34 min: TRY - Cowboys. Paul Bowman scores after the Cowboys put on a wonderful display of backing up and keeping the ball alive, Bowman eventually forcing his way over. Thurston and Matt Bowen playing a big hand. Thurston converts 8 metres wide of the posts. Cowboys 18-14

37 min: TRY - Cowboys. Matt Sing scores 5 metres in from touch. Follows a kick ahead from half way from Matt Bowen who then meets the much larger player in winger Luke Covell, forcing the ball free. Cowboys regather the loose ball and Sing scores before the Sharks' defence can recover. Conversion Thurston unsuccessful. Cowboys 22-14

Half time: Cowboys 22-14 A first half with some great attacking football from both sides. The Cowboys winning the early battle before the Sharks came back to take the lead, only to see the Cowboys hit back with a double in the latter stages. For the Sharks, centre Nigel Vagana and winger David Simmons are proving a handful in attack and half back Brett Kimmorley has also been making his mark around the ruck. Danny Nutley, Reece Williams and Phil Bailey are all working hard up front. For the Cowboys, full back Matt Bowen is in sensational form and is getting plenty of support from half back Jonathon Thurston. Paul Rauhihi is working up a storm in the forwards as are Aaron Payne, Shane Tronc and Steve Southern.

Second half underway...

42 min: TRY - Cowboys. Stand-in five eighth Justin Smith getting on the outside of his opposite Greg Bird and strolls through for the easiest of tries. Thurston converts 15 metres in from touch. Cowboys 28-14

47 min: TRY - Cowboys, Matt Sing dives on the ball to score following a grubber from Thurston. Conversion Justin Smith 10 metres wide of the posts is spot on and the Cowboys have taken a 20 point lead. Cowboys 34-14

51 min: NO TRY - Sharks denied after Nigel Vagana is deemed to have lost the ball before touching down.

55 min: NEWS - Huge bust from Cowboys' winger Brenton Bowen. Cowboys now have a repeat set of six at the Sharks' line with Greg Bird injured.

56 min: TRY - Cowboys. Justin Smith gets a double, crashing over as the Sharks don't mark up. Smith converts his own try from wide out. Cowboys 40-14

64 min: TRY - Cowboys. Matt Bowen scores under posts after throwing a dummy, taken hook line and sinker. Justin Smith converts from in front and its turning into a stampede! Cowboys 46-14

70 min: NEWS - It's all Cowboys as they chance their hand and launch wave after wave at the Sharks' line. Sharks looking error-ridden and well out of it.

71 min: TRY - Cowboys. Brenton Bowen snatches an intercept off a David Peachey pass and scores under the posts. Conversion Smith. Cowboys 52-14

78 min: TRY - Cowboys. Paul Bowman gets a double, scoring out wide on the back some good catch-and-pass play with Thurston and Matt Bowen in the thick of the action. Smith conversion attempt is unsuccessful. Cowboys 56-14

FULL TIME: Cowboys 56 - Sharks 14. For the Sharks, they had a period through the first half when they were looking the goods but were pretty dismal for the rest of the night. Unable to handle the pressure from the Cowboys' pack, the Sharks put in what could be best described as a demonstration on how to hand over possession. With State of Origin selection coming up, Brett Kimmorley has done very little to inspire confidence, putting in a poor kicking game and was generally steam rolled by his opposites in the second half.

A very impressive display from the Cowboys who have scored 34 unanswered points in the second half with some razzle dazzle football. Full back Matty Bowen gets the nod again as our man-of-the-match following a tremendous display of attacking footy. Jonathon Thurston, Paul Bowman and Justin Smith took advantage of some great forward work up the middle of the ruck with Steven Southern still working with a passion in the latter stages of the match. Overall, every player in the Cowboys' pack, and off the bench, killed them up front.

----------------------------------------- Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - M Bowen (Cowboys) 2 - P Rauhihi (Cowboys) 1 - S Southern (Cowboys) -----------------------------------------