League

Close encounter ... Cowboys win tight tussle. Pic: Gregg Porteous

Cowboys edge out Panthers

By Margie McDonald
August 13, 2007

NORTH Queensland centre Ashley Graham scored his third try of the match in extra-time to snatch a golden-point victory over Penrith last night.

The match marked the third golden point for the round after the games between Sydney Roosters and Wests Tigers on Friday night and the Sharks and Parramatta on Saturday.

It was a frustrating night for most of the match for the home side.

But with less than 10 minutes remaining and, after the lead had changed six times, Penrith got the edge, scoring twice in four minutes.

The Cowboys equalled the score with seconds on the clock, then scored three minutes into extra time.

Earlier Brisbane-bound Joel Clinton scored his third try of the season in his second-last game for Penrith, bursting onto a short pass from skipper Craig Gower.

Gower is also making a long farewell to Penrith after he agreed two months ago to play rugby in France.

Centre Michael Jennings scored his second try of the night with another 50-metre run to score under the posts.

The margin for the Panthers swelled to 10 points, 26-16, after Pentrith had two tries ruled against it by video referee Graeme West early in the second half. Both were off Gower corner kicks but Penrith players leaping high knocked the ball forward even though fellow teammates grounded cleanly.

But the Cowboys responded and scored two tries in two minutes, by five-eighth Justin Smith and Graham, with his second.

When the full-time hooter sounded, the score was locked at 26-26 after Johnathan Thurston had missed the conversion attempt after Graham's try that would have given the Cowboys victory.

The emotions of what was at stake were palpable.

Penrith was trying to avoid the wooden spoon and the Cowboys were trying to lock-up a top-four spot and a home semi-final in three weeks.

But the visitors had the worst possible start, losing back rower Steve Southern after just 11 minutes with a left shoulder injury.

Eight minutes from the break Penrith hooker Luke Priddis was brought down by prop Ray Cashmere and five-eighth Justin Smith. As Priddis struggled to get up he elbowed Cashmere across the upper chest and neck. Smith retaliated by trying to kick free from under Priddis's body and hit him in the head.

Punches were exchanged between the trio and players raced in from all directions. But after restoring calm, referee Jared Maxwell simply awarded a penalty to the Panthers against Cashmere for not clearing the play-the-ball area.

Just after half-time tempers heated up again when lock Sione Faumuina was placed on report for a swinging arm on Priddis, which forced the hooker to the bench.

Johnathan Thurston had earlier been given a couple of shake-ups in hefty tackles by Trent Waterhouse, who was making his return after a broken leg, and Maurice Blair.

The lead changed three times in the first half as both teams showed how much they wanted to win.

The scores were locked 10-10 at the interval with two tries apiece.

After Frank Pritchard opened the scoring for Penrith by working the shortside with Priddis, it was centre Michael Jennings who stole the show.

His captain, Craig Gower, tackled nippy Cowboys fullback Matt Bowen low and Jennings came in with gusto over the top. The jolt knocked the ball clean out of Bowen's hands and Jennings was there to pick it up. He raced 60m untouched to score.

But North Queensland was not going to be out-done and it was the two familiar showmen, Thurston and Bowen, who made the next try.

Gower attempted a chip kick through for Luke Lewis but Thurston swooped on it 10m inside Cowboys territory and took off. He swerved several times to avoid the clutches of Penrith interchange forward Matthew Cross.

Thurston could hear Bowen calling for the ball and when he finally got it, Penrith wing Michael Gordon stretched out to grab Bowen's jersey. But Bowen somehow managed to ground the ball.