Down five players on Origin duty the North Queensland Cowboys had their chances but weren’t moving with their usual efficiency in their 14-10 loss to the St George Illawarra Dragons at WIN Stadium on Saturday.
While the numbers point to the northerners being the better side on the night the Dragons managed to get some key stops when it mattered, especially in the last 10 minutes when the Cowboys laid siege to the home sides tryline.
Out of the gates it was all Dragons with Jason Nightingale and Kurt Mann crossing within the first 14 minutes to make it 10-0.
In between those tries a beautiful burst up the field by centre Javid Bowen appeared to have gotten the Cowboys on the board but the try was disallowed after the bunker ref ruled Lachlan Coote had raked the ball earlier in play.
The northerners finally crossed in the 37th minute when Kyle Feldt proved that his jitters against the Broncos in Round 11 were an aberration, when he skillfully reeled in a Coote bomb to make it 10-4 at the break.
Soon after play resumed Townsville Blackhawks call-up Jahrome Hughes made the most of his opportunity by busting through four Dragons defenders which leveled the score at 10 apiece after Ethan Lowe’s successful conversion.
After an extended points drought some top notch teamwork saw Euan Aitken cross to give the Dragons what would end up being the match winning try.
Jason Taumalolo was the best for the Cowboys in bulldozing his way to a game high 209 metres gained from 15 runs for another sensational showing.
The Cowboys will attempt to get back in the winners circle when they take on the bottom of the ladder Knights in Townsville next Saturday.
