Bowen given dream home farewell

Matt Bowen leads the Cowboys out against the Tigers. Source: Ian Hitchcock / Getty Images

QUEENSLAND'S hopes of ending a seven-season NRL premiership drought rests solely with the Cowboys.

9 Tries 4
Robert Lui 5'	James Tedesco 8'
Wayne Ulugia 23'	Curtis Sironen 31'
Johnathan Thurston 37'	Tim Simona 47'
Wayne Ulugia 40'	James Tedesco 49'
Jason Taumalolo 60'
Antonio Winterstein 64'
Matthew Bowen 69'
Matthew Bowen 74'
Wayne Ulugia 76'
7 Conversions 3
Johnathan Thurston 6'	Benji Marshall 9'
Johnathan Thurston 38'	Benji Marshall 48'
Johnathan Thurston 40'	Benji Marshall 50'
Johnathan Thurston 61'
Johnathan Thurston 66'
Johnathan Thurston 70'
Matthew Bowen 75'

And while they will have to do it from seventh at best, after Saturday night's 50-22 demolition of the Wests Tigers at 1300SMILES Stadium swept them to a sixth straight triumph, the state could hardly be in better hands.

Just as importantly, though, champion Cowboy Matt Bowen got a deserving send-off in his final hit-out in front of his faithful ahead of his retirement at the end of the finals campaign.

Almost 20,000 packed in to pay tribute to the greatest Cowboy there has ever been and their cheers could be heard as far north as Cairns when he sealed the victory with a trademark stepping and jinking try 12 minutes from time.

Five minutes later he was at it again, latching onto a Robert Lui grubber to make it two.

They were Bowen's 129th and 130th career tries in his 269th NRL game - both North Queensland club records.

Then, just to cap it off, he kicked the conversion for his second to send Townsville into party mode.

Despite the comfortable margin, the Cowboys were given a fright by the out-of-contention Tigers.

After North Queensland went to halftime looking comfortable when two late tries put them up by 12 points, the Tigers gave them a giant jolt when Tim Simona and James Tedesco went bang, bang to level the scores at 22-all.

But a powerful run and put-down by Jason Taumalolo all but ended the Tigers' charge.

Within 16 minutes of the young gun's four pointer a level score had become a blow-out.

Cowboys rookie winger Wayne Ulugia finished with his first career hat-trick.

There was a concern for North Queensland, though, with Brent Tate forced from the field with a shoulder injury and Joel Riethmuller also forced from the field with what appeared a rib complaint.

While it was fitting last hurrah for Bowen, it was a sad way for Benji Marshall to farewell the Tigers before his journey to rugby.

The Cowboys knew before kick-off their finals place was assured, with the Warriors and the Titans losing in the earlier games.

But there was still reason to perform as they looked to farewell Bowen and, while there were a couple of lapses to worry about, everything was going to plan at halftime as North Queensland led 22-10.

It was an emotional start, with Bowen making his way out through a guard of honour filled with family and friends, fireworks and an enormous roar from the Townsville faithful while carrying his children Diaz and Matthew Jr.

The sentiment may have taken its toll early too, as the teams went try for try in and were locked at 10-all after 30 minutes.

But an unfortunate intercept pass thrown by Robbie Farah, who had set up both of the Tigers' tries, appeared to turn the tide.

Johnathan Thurston latched onto the ball and ran 70m to cross before rookie winger Wayne Ulugia scored right on halftime to give the home team a 22-10 lead at halftime.

Tiger Ben Murdoch-Masila was put on report for a 57th minute high shot on Bowen. 

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Bowen given dream home farewell

Dengan url

http://sportifoclube.blogspot.com/2013/09/bowen-given-dream-home-farewell.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Bowen given dream home farewell

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Bowen given dream home farewell

sebagai sumbernya