The promising first half from the Bulldogs counted for nothing after a second half demolition by the Cowboys who ran away 46-20 winners in Townsville this afternoon.
It was eight tries to four at the end of 80 minutes.
The young pups were on the back foot from the outset with a number of errors forcing them to defend on their line for a number of sets. Some good positioning enabled them to hold the Cowboys up on two occasions but on the third they had no such luck with centre Akeripa Tia Kilifi crashing over in the seventh minute. Coen Hess had the kicking duties and pushed it wide, leaving the score at 4-nil.
The Cowboys were held up again a few minutes later but the attack kept coming and captain Kieran Quabba ran through the defensive line to score. Hess converted on this occasion to extend the lead out to 10-nil after 16 minutes.
The tide quickly turned with the young pups crossing for three tries in eight minutes. Michael Morgan, Josh Bergamin and Guy Hamilton all crossed for four pointers with Brad Keighran converting two, the Bulldogs jumped to the lead, 16-10 after 30 minutes.
Two late tries to the home side before the half-time break to winger Scott Schulte and then centre Conor Carey put the Cowboys back in front 18-16 when the siren sounded.
The second half started with some tough football being played through the middle but it was all one way traffic with the home side running four unanswered tries and with two being converted, the score was all of a sudden 46-16 after 70 minutes.
The young pups ran in a late try in the final minute through Royce Hunt. The try couldn’t be converted and the match finished 46-20.
COWBOYS 46 (Tia Kilifi, Quabba, Schulte 2, Carey, Carucci, Niemoeller, Hess Tries; Hess Goal)
Def.
BULLDOGS 20 (Morgan, Bergamin, Hamilton, Hunt Tries; Keighran 2 Goals)
At: 1300 Smiles Stadium
