The Cows get back on trot at home

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North Queensland Cowboys v Gold Coast Titans

Points were aplenty as the Cowboys triumphed 35-22 over their QLD rivals, the Gold Coast Titans.

North Queensland got off to a flying start at home - with a strong defensive effort followed by flashy attack which supressed anything Gold Coast threw at them. Zac Laybutt opened the scoring only 6 minutes in, with a show and go to scoot over off the back of a Chad Townsend ball. Despite his strong start, his afternoon ended after only 20 minutes as he limped from the field with a suspected ACL injury and did not return.

6-0 became 10-0 after a Valentine Holmes tip off put Murray Taulagi over in the corner. Holmes missed the kick, but it was all Cowboys up north. To make matters worse for the Titans, key playmaker Kieran Foran went down injured and left the field 7 minutes later with an injured ankle.

An error to David Fifita gave the Cowboys an attacking chance with 8 minutes to go in the first half, and Scott Drinkwater took advantage to score a brilliant solo try which Holmes converted to give the hosts a 16-0 lead. It looked as though Harley Smith-Shields scored on the brink of halftime after a fantastic kick from Brian Kelly, but the bunker reviewed the play and found Jayden Campbell was offside, overturning the call.

Making amends for the disallowed try, Brian Kelly started the second half in style - or rather in strength by muscling his way over from dummy half in the 46th minute minute. Although Tanah Boyd missed the conversion - it was game on.

The moment of competition looked to be short lived as a Valentine Holmes line break put North Queensland in a very good attacking position, and the lack of defensive resolve from Gold Coast was put on display with Scott Drinkwater bagging his double and giving his side a 22-4 lead.

The Titans lack of disciple was further exposed with an ugly high shot from Sam Verrills which opened Reece Robson up to scoot over and score from the subsequent penalty. Although 25 minutes remained, the 28-4 lead looked touch to break until... enter Jayden Campbell. AJ Brimson made a linebreak out of nothing to put the fullback over the line. Tanah Boyd made no mistake on that occasion, and they only trailed 28-10.

Only three minutes later Chad Townsend was sent to the sin-bin for a nasty hip drop and Sam Verrills went from zero to hero with a wonderful short pass to put Kleese Haas over to score. Tanah Boyd converted and two minutes later the Titans halfback set Beau Fermor up for a linebreak, where he found Jojo Fifita who gave it back to him to score. Somehow, it was 28-22 and Gold Coast had 15 minutes to score 6 points - it looked very possible.

It was AJ Brimson who started the Titans resurgence, but also AJ who ended it with an intercept pass which Kyle Feldt pounced on to score his 131st try for the club - making him the Cowboys all-time top tryscorer. Valentine Holmes converted, and three minutes later just after returning from the sin bin, Chad Townsend nailed a field goal to give the hosts 13 point lead of 35-22 with seven minutes to play.

Gold Coast threw everything they had at North Queensland, but it wasn't enough to get over the line, or to score another point as the Cowboys held on at home. The win would certainly be pleasing, but their defensive lapses at times are a concern for their season. Still, they were victorious over the winless Titans who will need to do some serious soul searching.