Forty minute Knights beat Cowboys

The Newcastle Knights played their way through a first half that nearly went perfect for them on their way to beating the North Queensland Cowboys 36-18 at EnergyAustralia Stadium tonight.

The Knights ran in six tries in the first half, making use of the Cowboys horrid defence. The defence took it's toll in the first twelve minutes where the Knights broke through to score three tries to set up an early 16-0 advantage. Following another try, a Kurt Gidley (who was making his long awaited return) mistake lead to Shannon Gallant scoring the Cowboys' first try. From there, it was all Knights. Everything seemed to be going their way for the remainder of the half.

Something must have clicked in the second half for the visitors as the Cowboys ante went right up. Their defence and attack improved, yet they struggled to find the line. The Knights defence started to give way as the Cowboys made it a twelve point ball game following a brace of tries.

Time then managed to beat the Cowboys, a few bombed opportunities not helping their cause. A late Cooper Vuna try, his third for the night finally sealed it up for the Knights, victors in front of over 14,000 at their home stadium.

Match Details
Newcastle Knights 36 defeated North Queensland Cowboys 18
National Rugby League - NRL - Round 6 - Saturday April 17, 2010 5:30pm
Venue: EnergyAustralia Stadium
Referee: Ashley Klein and Chris James
Video Referee: Phil Cooley
Touch Judges: Jeff Younis and Luke Potter
Crowd: 14,205
Halftime: Newcastle Knights 30 North Queensland Cowboys 6

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Jarrod Mullen
2 Points - Cory Paterson (1 Try)
1 Point - Cooper Vuna (3 Tries)

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (36)
Tries: Keith Lulia, Cory Paterson, Cooper Vuna (3), Cameron Ciraldo, Isaac De Gois
Conversions: Kurt Gidley (3/6)

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (18)
Tries: Ashley Graham, John Williams, Shannon Gallant
Conversions: John Williams (3/3)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Welcome to EnergyAustraila Stadium for a match up between the Newcastle Knights and the North Queensland Cowboys. This match signals the return of the Knights captain, Kurt Gidley, in his first match since appearing for the NRL All Stars.
TOYOTA CUP - A late surge by the Cowboys has enabled the side to remain on top of the ladder in the National Youth Competition, beating the Newcastle Knights 36-22.

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS 36 (Wayne Ulugia 2, Michael Morgan, David Uhi, Nathan Kepa, James Segeyaro tries, Kyle Feldt 6/6 goals) def. NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS 22 (Justin Smith, Tyrone Roberts, Tyler Sullivan, Carl Means tries, Tyrone Roberts 3/4 goals)
LATE CHANGE NEWCASTLE - IN Lulia, Rogers ; OUT Naiqama, Dureau
LATE CHANGE NORTH QLD - IN Webb ; OUT Rovelli - Ty Williams to start at 5/8th, Tamou on the bench, Webb starting.
KICK OFF! We're underway.
2 min: Both sides with a neat entrance to the game.
4 min: TRY
Ciraldo with a powerhouse effort, going through a few defenders to plant the ball down, getting the scoring underway tonight.
Newcastle Knights 4-0
6 min: Knights with a few penalties in good position with a great amount of possession so far.
7 min: TRY
Knights extend the lead, Lulia grabs a nice pass from Mullen to speed away and score.
Newcastle Knights 10-0
12 min: TRY
They're making it look easy now, Paterson adds to the already massive lead, dummying his way over the line.
Newcastle Knights 16-0
16 min: The Cowboys getting some possession now, eager to score, hopefully.
17 min: Maybe not. Cowboys not doing too well, making few metres.
20 min: TRY
They're in again. The Cowboys defence terrible as De Gois nearly literally strolls over.
Newcastle Knights 22-0
25 min: TRY
Gidley has a shocking attempt at a catch, enabling the Cowboys to get on the board through Gallant.
Newcastle Knights 22-6
29 min: TRY
As soon as North Queensland get a sniff......Vuna adds to the scoring board, originally thought a knock-on from Sa'u was involved but in the end the try is awarded.
Newcastle Knights 26-6
33 min: TRY
Vuna in for his second try in moments. The defence of the Cowboys more than gone.
Newcastle Knights 30-6
37 min: Cowboys continuing with their simple errors.
40 min: That's half time with the Knights up 30-6. The less said about this half from the Cowboys, the better.
40 min: Second half underway.
44 min: Cowboys starting the second half decently.
49 min: Both sides starting to play some good football.
51 min: TRY
John Williams goes over for the Cowboys in the corner. Knights doing some bad defending of their own there.
Newcastle Knights 30-12
57 min: Cowboys putting some good sets together, another try will make this match very interesting.
61 min: TRY Northern Storm
And it comes off. This match isn't over quite yet, believe it or not. Graham going through the defence well.
Newcastle Knights 30-18
62 min: Ty Williams blows what looked like an important try!
71 min: Errors starting to come from both sides.
73 min: Time starting to beat the Cowboys.
77 min: TRY
A hat-trick to Vuna as the Knights finally wrap the game up. Great lead-up work by Paterson.
Newcastle Knights 36-18
80 min: Well that's it. Knights run out 36-18 winners.