Cowboys second-half blitz stuns Raiders

FIVE tries in 29 minutes propelled the North Queensland Cowboys to a 32-24 victory over Canberra at 1300SMILES Stadium on Saturday night.

The win gave the opportunity for prop Matt Scott to celebrate his 200th game in style while also keeping the pressure on the Broncos at the top of the table.

Scott was forthright in his summation of the game, saying they couldn't afford to start slow against fellow top four sides with the finals around the corner.

"It was a good win; I wouldn't call it great," he said.

"We've got to keep working on our performances and make sure we complete better. We're lucky we did that in the second half and got points on the board.

"We're capable of beating anyone in the competition but if we play like we did tonight we won't beat the other top four sides."

In a classic game of two halves the Raiders raced out to an 18-0 lead in 20 minutes.

But in the shadows of halftime an error from former Knight Joseph Leilua invited the home side back into the game.

They didn't need to be asked twice with Michael Morgan scoring the Cowboys' first try of the match as the siren sounded for the break.

After being on the end of a green tidal wave of possession for most of the first half, the home side enjoyed the majority of the ball in the second half.

They took full advantage with winger Antonio Winterstein crossing for a double, while Jake Granville and Gavin Cooper also added their names to the score sheet.

"We know we can put points on, but I'm disappointed with how we start sometimes and when we concede soft tries early. We've got to fix that by the end of the competition," Scott said.

The Raiders will face a nervous week with five-eighth Blake Austin and winger Edrick Lee placed on report.

Lee was penalised for an alleged trip on Cowboys winger Justin O'Neill while Austin earned the ire of Cowboys players in the 47th minute when he appeared to pick up the leg of Gavin Cooper, putting him in a dangerous position.

The loss for Canberra leaves them on the cusp of the top eight with a must-win match against the Tigers next Monday night in Canberra.

The Cowboys face a tricky trip to the Shire next week when they clash with the Sharks on Saturday night.

Match Details

North Queensland Cowboys 32 Canberra Raiders 24
Venue: 1300SMILES Stadium
Crowd: 16207
Halftime Score: North Queensland Cowboys 4 Canberra Raiders 18

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (32)
Tries: Michael Morgan, Gavin Cooper, Antonio Winterstein (2), Jake Granville
Conversions: Johnathan Thurston (4/5)
Penalty Goals: Johnathan Thurston (2/2)

CANBERRA RAIDERS (24)
Tries: Jack Wighton, Edrick Lee, Iosia Soliola, Kurt Baptiste
Conversions: Jarrod Croker (3/4)
Penalty Goals: Jarrod Croker (1/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Matthew Scott
2 points - Ben Hannant
1 point - Jack Wighton

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

We are underway! Cowboys to kick off, Raiders first possession as they defend the northern end of 1300SMILES Stadium.

Impressive first set from the visitors with Williams finding touch 5m from the Cowboys line.

2: Cowboys return the favour and go 100m with Morgan's kick sitting in the in-goal. Wighton is then tackled in-goal. Raiders dropout.

3: Thurston tries to thread the needle and Leilua gets the intercept before having the ball stripped. Raiders scrum though.

4: 40/20 CANBERRA RAIDERS
Josh Hodgson kicks a 40/20.
Hodgson puts the Raiders on the attack with a booming 40/20.

5: Williams kicks for Austin but JT is back there. Cowboys dropout.

7: Williams pops the short pass to Soliola who puts it down. Cowboys scrum.

8: PENALTY Cowboys. Thurston cops one high from Shillington who was also never back the 10.

9: Granville knocks on as the Cowboys pressured the Raiders line. The visitors will feed a scrum.

10: PENALTY Raiders. Cowboys offside and in back play Thurston is hobbling with a left knee injury.

10: PENALTY Raiders. Hand on the ball from Linnett.

12: TRY CANBERRA RAIDERS
Scored by Jack Wighton. Kick to come.
Wighton finishes off a play to the left side for the visitors to open the scoring. Williams and Soliola combine to pop the pass to the fullback who reaches out to bang the ball down.

13: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANBERRA RAIDERS
Conversion attempt by Jarrod Croker unsuccessful.
Croker pushes the attempt to the left. No goal.

14: Austin kicks in behind the defence and Rapana nearly steals a try but Coote bats the ball dead.

15: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible Raiders try.

15: TRY CANBERRA RAIDERS
Scored by Edrick Lee. Kick to come.
Edrick Lee extends the visitors lead when he crosses over in the left corner.

16: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANBERRA RAIDERS
Conversion attempt by Jarrod Croker successful.
Croker hits the upright from the sideline and bounces over.

18: Coote goes to the air but his bomb sails over the sideline on the full. Changeover.

20: TRY CANBERRA RAIDERS
Scored by Iosia Soliola. Kick to come.
Soliola scores for the Raiders! Williams kicked towards the posts and the ball was batted back by Wighton into the arms of Soliola who crosses next to the posts.

21: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANBERRA RAIDERS
Conversion attempt by Jarrod Croker successful.
Croker adds another two.

24: PENALTY Cowboys. Croker puts Coote into a dangerous position.

26: Thurston's pass is knocked on after Soliola raced out of the line. Raiders ball.

28: The big polar bear was about to charge over the top of Wighton down the middle of the park but he spills his lollies. Raiders ball.

29: PENALTY Cowboys. Austin charges through to put pressure on Coote and whacks him across the neck.

30: The Cowboys push the ball to the right and it's knocked down before JT knocks on. Cowboys scrum.

31: PENALTY Cowboys. Austin grabs Cooper and swings him to the ground after the tackle.

32: The Raiders defence holds as the Cowboys ran the ball on the last. Changeover.

33: Coote puts Austin's bomb down underneath his own crossbar. Raiders scrum.

35: PENALTY Raiders. Play-the-ball too slow.

36: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL CANBERRA RAIDERS
Penalty goal attempt by Jarrod Croker successful.
Croker puts the visitors up by three converted tries in the shadows of halftime.

38: The Raiders run the ball on the last and Papalii's pass on the inside is put down by Austin.

39: Leilua drops the ball as cold as a spud to give the Cowboys one last chance.

39: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Michael Morgan. Kick to come.
Morgan crosses out wide for the Cowboys to give themselves a sniff at halftime. He got on the outside of Williams to open the home side's account.

40: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston unsuccessful.
Thurston can't convert from out wide.

40: We're underway for the second half.

41: The Cowboys go 100m in their first set and force a dropout. In back play, Josh Hodgson is receiving treatment for the visitors.

42: The Cowboys run the ball on the last and a replay suggests Lee trips Linnett. Penalty Cowboys.

43: Morgan knocks on after the Cowboys run the ball on the last again. Raiders defence holds.

44: Williams finds touch for the Raiders 15 from the Cowboys line. They'll feed a scrum.

45: Morgan goes into the back field and then for some reason throws a pass straight to Edrick Lee.

47: PENALTY Cowboys. Austin and a posse of Cowboys come together after he picks up the leg. He might have a problem later.

48: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Gavin Cooper. Kick to come.
Cooper and Thurston combine to send the second-rower over out wide. Cooper ran a great line on the outside of Austin who couldn't stop him reaching out.

49: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
Thurston adds the extras and the gap is now eight.

51: Asiata puts the ball into the air and Wighton comes up with the catch but Morgan and O'Neill drag him back. Raiders dropout.

52: Thurston dummies and goes straight through before a desperate effort from Nuuausala drags him down and forces the error.

56: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible Cowboys try.

56: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Antonio Winterstein. Kick to come.
Winterstein crosses for the Cowboys after Shillington tried inexplicably to pass in his own 30m zone.

58: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
Thurston gets the Cowboys within two.

60: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Jake Granville. Kick to come.
Granville crosses next to the posts to put the Cowboys in front! Bolton found himself in the back field and Thurston loomed in support before delivering a sublime pass between two defenders to send Granville over.

60: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
Thurston adds another two.

62: Williams has a peak and drops his lollies. Cowboys ball.

63: Thurston kicks left-footed and Austin comes up with a great catch but is pushed back into the in-goal. Raiders dropout.

64: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Antonio Winterstein. Kick to come.
Winterstein crosses out wide to extend the Cowboys lead. Granville, Thurston and Coote combine before Linnett catches and passes to put Winterstein over.

66: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
Thurston mades it four from five to put the Cows out by 10.

67: PENALTY Cowboys. Thurston is dragged down in a possible professional foul, but the ref won't use the sinbin.

68: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Penalty goal attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
Thurston extends the lead to two converted tries.

71: PENALTY Raiders. Another possible professional foul, but the refs don't use the bin.

72: PENALTY Raiders. Williams goes to the air and Winterstein comes up with the catch but the refs believe a chaser was taken out.

73: Williams kicks to the corner and Rapana knocks on. Cowboys ball.

74: Williams takes the Cowboys defence on and puts the ball down. Cowboys on the attack.

75: PENALTY Cowboys. Ball stripped according to the refs even though Taumalolo was trying to pass.

75: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Penalty goal attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
Thurston puts the Cowboys out beyond two converted tries.

78: Thurston goes to the air and Croker comes up with the ball before Granville dumps him on his back.

79: PENALTY Raiders. Thurston steals the ball off Austin,

79: TRY CANBERRA RAIDERS
Scored by Kurt Baptiste. Kick to come.
Baptiste crosses next to the posts as a consolation for the Raiders.

79: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANBERRA RAIDERS
Conversion attempt by Jarrod Croker successful.
Croker adds the extras.

79: PENALTY Raiders. Hand on the ball.

80: Thurston throws the ball over the sideline to wrap it up in Townsville.