FULL TIME - The Bulldogs throw the ball but the Cowboys hang on to a 2 point win
Blake Wilson loses the ball and the Cowboys can capitalise on a second opportunity
Val Holmes converts from close range
Jaxon Purdue scores but it's the run of Tom Dearden to shrug off the defenders and create the space
Not sure how that's gone backwards but Gerard Sutton says play on as Drinkwater spills the ball
Cowboys force a dropout and the Bulldogs regather it
BUNKER: Bailey Hayward loses the ball stretching out but subsequent contact penalised by the bunker and Matt Burton adds 2
PENALTY BULLDOGS: Back-to-back penalties for the Cows as the Dogs get to attack the Cowboys line
PENALTY BULLDOGS: The Cowboys called inside the 10 and the Cowboys gift the Bulldogs a lot of metres
Matt Burton keeps the conversion to the left of the uprights
AIR KIRAZ - Bumps Val Holmes in the air as he contests the ball but it's Matt Burton who kicks back to the short side that comes up perfectly
Cowboys go short and Drinkwater gets it about 10m before knocking it on
This game just going into a pretty mundane pattern, the Bulldogs though force a dropout as they get back to 13
Cowboys lose the ball and the Bulldogs are on the attack
Val Holmes converts from close range to re-establish the lead
The Bulldogs are defending repeatedly and the line has to crack and it's Heilum Luki who goes over
Correction, was Nanai who was taken out
Blake Wilson goes to the sin bin for a professional foul with contact on Viliami Vailea before he got the ball close to the line
SECOND HALF IS GO! Bulldogs kick things off and concede a penalty first tackle
HALF TIME - Both sides have had the lead but t's the Bulldogs who take it into HT at 12-8
Todd Payten not happy as the Cowboys implode in attack mid-field with a forward pass that was obvious
Cowboys have an attacking chance but two kicks are ineffective
The Cowboys on the attack as the game is focused very much on the middle
Matt Burton tugs the conversion to the right
Bronson Xerri goes through chasing a Toby Sexton kick and gets there first
Val Holmes equals the scores after the Dogs give away a high tackle penalty
The Townsville crowd let their support for Braidon Burns lknow about that penalty let's just say and Burton adds the the 2
Matt Burton converts from in front
DOGGIES HIT BACK - It's a beautiful kick from Toby Sexton chasing through is Josh Curran who beats some interference and gets it down
Big concern for a shoulder/nerve injury for Stephen Crichton
Dogs defence survives there under big pressure from the Cows
Val Holmes converts
Heilum Luki goes through after the Dogs spill the ball
Four minutes in and it's a shaky start for the Cows
GAME ON! Bulldogs have first use of the ball in Townsville and already being pushed backwards
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Gerard Sutton
Touch Judges: Michael Wise, Daniel Schwass
Video Referee: Peter Gough
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (20)
Tries: Heilum Luki (2), Jaxon Purdue
Field Goals:
Two Point Field Goals:
Conversions: Valentine Holmes (3/3)
Penalty Goals: Valentine Holmes (1/1)
CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (18)
Tries: Josh Curran, Bronson Xerri, Jacob Kiraz
Field Goals:
Two Point Field Goals:
Conversions: Matt Burton (1/3)
Penalty Goals: Matt Burton (2/2)