Cowboys hold out injury hit Raiders

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Canberra Raiders v North Queensland Cowboys

North Queensland have got back-to-back wins for the first time in 2019 to get their season back on track, victorious 22-16 against a Raiders side starting to feel the pinch from injuries.

The Raiders very nearly scored in the second minute when Michael Oldfield found space down the right wing and then threw a pass back inside to Sam Williams, who over-run the ball and knocked it on with only the tryline in front of him.

Jordan Kahu kicked a penalty goal in the ninth minute and followed it up with a try 8 minutes later when Jake Granville splits the markers from a great dummy half run, drew the defender and passed to Tom Opacic, who ran away to score untouched. Kahu converted to give the Cowboys an 8 point lead.

Canberra piled on the pressure shortly after, starting with a 40/20 from Jack Wighton, then a penalty shortly after. The mounting pressure and field position eventually resulted in Bailey Simonsson receiving a good ball on the right wing and he dived over to score an acrobatic try in the corner. Captain Jarrod Croker failed to convert from touch.

Three minutes later, the Raiders were in again when a Williams grubber was placed to the right side, where the Cowboys players just watched it roll past. Oldfield flew through, planting the ball just inside the dead ball line for a try. Croker nails the difficult conversion.

Just minutes before half time, the Cowboys hit back through Michael Morgan, whose quick run on the last down the short-side lead to a good pass out to Justin O'Neill who had clear space in front of him. He dived over for a frightfully easy try close to the line. Kahu added the extras.

Just 3 minutes after the resumption of play, the Cowboys were in again. Morgan kicked to Kyle Feldt on the right side who was unmarked. The ball bounced awkwardly and Feldt over-ran the ball, however he stopped, turned and managed to grab the ball as he fell and grounded the ball for a try. Kahu failed to convert.

Kahu kicked a penalty goal in the 53rd minute. Then on the hour mark, the Raiders reduced the deficit when Siliva Havili dived over from dummy half and only just got the ball on the line for a try. Croker converted from right in front.

Cowboys enforcer Jason Taumalolo very nearly scored in the final 10 mins, but dropped the ball just inches from the ground in a heavy tackle.

In the 74th minute Kahu kicked another penalty goal for the visitors. The Raiders were unable to crack the Cowboys defence and the score remained unchanged.