Ward Gets
Warriors Off The Hook

The Warriors have defeated the Cowboys 30-24 at Ericsson Stadium this afternoon.

But video ref, Eddie Ward got the Warriors off the hook with a call that cost the Cowboys any chance of levelling the match and sending it into extra time. David Myles (Cowboys) kicked the ball in goal and while the ball had crossed the dead ball line, it was still in the air which means the ball is still legally in play. Clinton Toopi was the next player to touch the ball so it should have been a goal line drop out. Cecchin called it this way and was overruled by Ward. At the time of the decision, there was less than ten minutes on the clock and the Cowboys had scored 12 unanswered points to only trail by six. Less than a minute out from full time Leigh McWilliams had the ball stripped by Brent Webb and Cecchin again asked for assistance with the call and the touch judge ruled he had knocked the ball on. McWilliams was less than five metres out from the Warriors line when the decison was given and with a minute to go, the Cowboys would have had one more set of six to tie the game and send it into extra time. In the end, the Cowboys were robbed by the incompetence of the video ref and the touch judges. Ward needs to be relieved of his video ref responsibilities after such a monumental gaffe that cost one team any chance at two premiership points.

Cowboys coach Graham Murray is well within his rights to vocie his disgust and discontent with the decisions without fear of reprisal or a $10,000 fine from the NRL.

David Myles from the Cowboys was the best player on the field and they aren't far away from being a force in the NRL. The Cowboys need to just keep on plugging away and the tide will turn in their favour. It's only a matter of time.

Leagueunlimited player of the year points:

3 David Myles (Cowboys) 2 P J Marsh (Warriors) 1 Leigh McWilliams (Cowboys)

Scorers: Warriors 30 Tries: Tony, Meli, Toopi, Jones, Fa'afili, Marsh Goals: Marsh 3/6 Cowboys 24 Tries: Sing x 2, McWilliams, Hannay Goals: Hannay 4/4

By the clock: 19th min: TRY - Cowboys. Matt Sing opens the Cowboys account after a big hit from Morrison jolts the ball loose from Koopu and the Cowboys spread it wide with Sing scoring in the corner. Conversion successful. Cowboys 6-0.

21st min: TRY - Warriors. The Warriors hit straight back with a try to Motu Tony. Jones put up the bomb with Sweeny from the Cowboys making a mess of it and Tony was there to pick up the scraps and lunge over the line for the Warriors first try. Conversion unsuccessful. Cowboys 6-4.

26th min: TRY - Warriors. The Warriors have come to life all of a sudden with Francis Meli scoring in the corner after some great long range running and passing. Conversion successful. Warriors 10-6.

33rd min: TRY - Warriors. The men from N.Z are warming up with Clinton Toopi crossing in the corner. It all started with a sensational break out of dummy half from Marsh, who then passed it inside to Jones who then threw a loose pass on the ground that was scooped up and passed to Toopi in one motion from Koopu. Conversion successful. Warriors 16-6.

37th min: TRY - Cowboys. Sing gets a double after McWilliams makes a good run from dummy half, turns the ball inside to David Myles who draws the Warriors defence in and sends Sing on a 35 metre run to the line and scores under the posts. Covnersion successful. Warriors 16-12.

48th min: TRY - Warriors. After being held up only a minute earlier, Stacy Jones scores his first of the day to extend the Warriors lead. Conversion successful. Warriors 22-12.

55th min: TRY - Warriors. Henry Fa'afili scores after P J Marsh drops a kick behind the Cowboys defensive line with big Henry racing through to score a metre in from the dead ball line. Conversion unsuccessful. Warriors 26-12.

57th min: TRY - Warriors. Marsh scores next to the posts to exgtend his personal tally to ten points as the Warriors inflict another heavy loss on the Cowboys. conversion unsuccessful. Warriors 30-12.

62nd min: TRY - Cowboys. Leigh McWilliams does a bash and barge to cross adjacent to the posts and the Hannay conversion reduces the deficit to just 12 points. Warriors 30-18.

69th min: TRY - Cowboys. Josh Hannay scores after a hard back slamming tackle on John Carlaw sees him lose the ball and Hanny race off to score under the spots to make it a six point ball game. Warriors 30-24.

FULL TIME: The Warriors run out unconvincing 30-24 winners and they can thank video ref Eddie Ward for the two points after a shocking decision gives the Warriors possession when it should have been a goal line drop out.