Match Centre

FULL TIME - Their season may be over but the Cowboys have too much to play for and win for Scott Bolton and Matt Scott in their final game at 1300Smiles Stadium.

Cowboys get it back off the short restart.

Jake Granville goes himself on the last and almost goes over but is denied. Bulldogs with it on their own line. They need to go 100 metres and are pushed in-goal. Dropout.

Bulldogs send the restart out on the full.

Michael Morgan threatens to break through some tired Bulldogs defenders but the ankle grab from Corey Harawira-Naera takes him down. They spread it left and Murray Taulagi forces the dropout.

The ball out of dummy-half to Lachlan Lewis is terrible, he can't get a good shot away, it rebounds off a Cowboy to Raymond Faitala-Mariner in an offside position. Cowboys penalty.

Cowboys with it back and John Asiata kicks it out on the full. Bulldogs still with plenty of chances to steal this but they look like they don't have the energy left in them. Michael Morgan, Scott Drinkwater and Jake Granville looking likely for the home side.

Corey Harawira-Naera dives on the ball with no-one at dummy-half for the Cowboys.

Scott Bolton and Jordan McLean with the opening runs of the set before Jason Taumalolo, who has been excellent, charges up over halfway. Cowboys finding plenty of metres. They're 10 out on the last. John Asiata rolls in a grubber, Bulldogs touched it, six again!

Cowboys earn a relieving penalty inside their own 20.

Michael Morgan gives his side a much-needed break as he finds touch 10 out from the Canterbury line.

The Bulldogs hook a kick towards Will Hopoate who flies above brilliantly to take it but the Cowboys steam onto the flick pass from the centre. Game still well and truly in the balance.

John Asiata with an error inside the Canterbury half.

Cowboys have used all of their interchanges. Bulldogs with three left.

Lachlan Lewis with a towering bomb but Scott Drinkwater is under it again - has been very comfortable tonight and his support play, when needed, has been excellent through the middle.

Cowboys playing with more energy at the moment as Jake Granville bolts out of dummy-half and finds Michael Morgan. He links with Tom Opacic in space but no-one is there in support. They shift it left now and the Bulldogs scramble to stop it.

Scott Drinkwater through the middle after a lovely ball back inside on the last from Michael Morgan, he kicks for Kyle Feldt but the bounce isn't kind. Bulldogs with it on their own 10-metre mark.

Cowboys throw it around dangerously and lose 20 metres, Gavin Cooper diving on it 10 metres out from his own line and is down injured.

Adam Elliott short to Dylan Napa who drops it. Tough pass to take right at the defensive line.

Lachlan Lewis with a cheeky chip through, Gavin Cooper has it but tries to slide the ball around and drops it. Bulldogs 10 out.

Kieran Foran with a kick right to the middle near the posts, plenty around it and the Cowboys drop it. More pressure coming.

Aiden Tolman forces a high shot from Francis Molo and draws the penalty.

Raymond Faitala-Mariner with a risky flick pass that is put down. Cowboys back with it close to the line.

John Asiata with a testing bomb to Jayden Okunbor on the last who is under enormous pressure with Cowboys all around him but they drop it and the Bulldogs have it back on their own line.

Time stopped as Raymond Faitala-Mariner got treatment on a potential injury. He's good to go now.

Lachlan Lewis to the air on the last. No real pressure on Scott Drinkwater who takes it comfortably.

Drama for the Bulldogs off the restart. Josh Jackson soccers the kick-off ahead towards Cowboys chasers. They dive on it and but fumble it. Canterbury get it back.

Lachlan Lewis puts it into the air on the last and is collected late. Penalty and they'll shoot for two.

Nice, up-tempo start from the Cowboys in this set as they roll upfield. Michael Morgan puts it into the air on the last bu Dallin Watene-Zelezniak takes it comfortably.

Back at Townsville.

HALF TIME - Some tired boys out there, Bulldogs and Cowboys tied up at two points a piece.

John Asiata puts in a kick towards Murray Taulagi's wing on the last. Jayden Okunbor can't take it cleanly but that's the break.

Jeremy Marshall-King with what wasn't the worst kick but the chase is poor and it goes dead.

Michael Morgan's kick on the last rolls dead. Seven-tackle set Bulldogs.

Lachlan Lewis bangs a long kick from inside his own 40. Murray Taulagi has it and is tackled on the 20.

Clearing kick on the last as Nick Meaney throws a pass across the face of goal to Jayden Okunbor who was under enormous pressure. Bulldogs with 57% of the ball so far.

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak rolls in a kick on the last and Jordan Kahu falls on it just inside the field of play.

Lachlan Lewis with a nice kick, the chase isn't the best but Scott Drinkwater still takes it dead.

The Cowboys lose it now and the Bulldogs get another chance on their line.

Penalty Bulldogs. Josh Jackson, who has been great tonight, surges up towards the line and goes just short. Now Raymond Faitala-Mariner takes it up before they shift if left and Corey Harawira-Naera drops it.

Michael Morgan finds touch just shy of the Bulldogs try-line. Still no points but a quality contest nonetheless with neither side giving the other many opportunities to breach their line.

Unsurprisingly it has been a defensive slog but primarily due to the great goal-line defence as opposed to poor attack.

Chris Smith charges up to the line and is over it but held up. They then spin it left and Nick Meaney is taken comfortably despite pretty slick work. Cowboys defending very well. They get it back now and kick down eventually to Meany with the Bulldogs on their own 20.

Michael Morgan takes on the line, reaches out and grounds it short before dropping it.

Cowboys survive. Corey Harawira-Naera bats back the bomb on the last but Michael Morgan has it. Cowboys playing up-tempo with the Bulldogs struggling to get back and they earn a penalty.

They tap and go.

Escort penalty for the Bulldogs here right on Cowboys line.

The Cowboys quickly shift it right, too quick for Scott Drinkwater who can't get the ball away fast enough and drops it.

Cowboys with a relieving penalty to help them out of their own end. They're 40 out.

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak now under the bomb on the last as Canterbury re-gain possession inside their own half.

Close call. Kieran Foran flies through off a nice offload and kicks ahead for Dallin Watene-Zelezniak who seems to have scored but replays show he lost possession.

Gavin Cooper bats back the kick on the last and it ends up with Jordan McLean who shoves it onto John Asiata, he rushes a grubber that goes dead.

Jordan Kahu dumps Jayden Okunbor after the Canterbury winger retrieves the clearing kick on the last. Bulldogs winning the field position battle now with their outside backs offering plenty of metres out of their own end. Adam Elliott throws it forward to Corey Harawira-Naera who tried to pull out and dropped it. Cowboys scrum on their own 30.

Kieran Foran with a perfect kick on the last which spins into touch, just two or so metres shy of the line.

Penalty Bulldogs and they will go for two.

Lovely play from Canterbury as they spread it left near halfway. Kieran Foran takes it right up to the line and links with Josh Jackson who quickly finds Will Hopoate. He double pumps before linking with Jayden Okunbor, he kicks inside and Scott Drinkwater has to bat it dead.

Great set after points. Cowboys 30 out as John Asiata goes to the air. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is under it and the Bulldogs start their set right on their own line.

Cowboys with it right at the try line and a couple of tackles left. Lachlan Lewis with a great one-on-one tackle on Shane Wright right on the line. Kieran Foran penalised for a late escort on the last. Penalty home side. They'll shoot for two.

Lachlan Lewis this time to the air on the last and Murray Taulagi is under it. Cowboys to work it out from inside their own 30. Jordan Kahu with a nice run as he earns a penalty. Set to start 40 out from Bulldogs line.

Cowboys with a struggle of their own as they look to complete their set. Michael Morgan's kick takes a deflection from Corey Harawira-Naera who dives on it. Bulldogs on the 30.

Lachlan Lewis with a fourth-tackle kick that finds touch 35 out from the Cowboys' line off Canterbury's first set.

Underway at Townsville.

Good evening and welcome to tonight's live blog of the last-ever clash at 1300Smiles Stadium. Both sides 1-17. Kick-off expected in just over five minutes.