Patchy Cowboys overcome plucky Knights

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North Queensland Cowboys v Newcastle Knights

A second half double-shot from the Cowboys has helped them to a 12-point win over the Knights this evening at 1300SMILES Stadium in front of over 13,000 fans.

The Knights came out all-guns-blazing but it was the home team who crossed first after bustling forward Gavin Cooper scored from dummy half after Kalyn Ponga had come tantalisingly close.

Kyle Feldt missed the conversion but soon after rectified it with a penalty goal, but then the Knights wrestled control of the contest, with Nathan Ross opening their account 17 minutes in. Brock Lamb converted to level scores, then minutes later Brendan Elliot raced away from his own 10 metre line to put the visiting team in front.

The good work unravelled just before the break, with the home team fighting back through a Kalyn Ponga try on 37 minutes. Feldt missed another conversion which enabled Newcastle to stay two points ahead at halftime.

It took only seven miniutes of the second half for the Cowboys to steam ahead, Kane Linnett brushing past Lamb and with Ethan Lowe assuming the goalkicking duties, the lead was four.

Ponga doubled his tryscoring tally for the night just past the hour mark when he scored on the back of a dissent penalty against Newcastle. A 22-12 lead was just about all the Cowboys needed, with only a Feldt penalty goal with seven remaining changing the scoreline before fulltime.

The Cowboys were able to hold on despite some Knights' pressure in the final five, much to most of the 13,878 in attendance.

The Townsville faithful get another home game next week when North Queensland host Parramatta next Friday night, while the Knights have another Queensland sojourn when they face the Titans, 3pm Saturday at Cbus Super Stadium.