COWBOYS RIDE HIGH TO BLITZ BULLDOGS

NORTH Queensland fullback Scott Drinkwater scored a try double for the second consecutive week as the Cowboys stormed home against Canterbury in Bundaberg.

The Dogs had proved a stern test for the second-placed North Queensland side with Matt Burton’s bombs causing problems for Drinkwater all afternoon and giving the home side a 10-0 lead.

But as against St George Illawarra last week, Todd Payten’s men piled on the points after the break, including three tries in 10 minutes, to seal a 28-14 win and move clear of the Sharks in second place.

Payten had warned about Burton’s kicking game in his prematch press conference, but it was the Cowboys’ kicking – right from the off – that caused them a problem.

Drinkwater’s kick-off appeared to be dropped by Braidon Burns, but the Dogs used their captain’s challenge, and it was ruled that the centre did not touch the ball and it had gone directly into touch.

The Cowboys had turned in a strong second half for the second week running and Drinkwater, who had endured a patchy day, was in the right place at the right time after Reece Robson’s break from dummy half to seal the win for the Cowboys with about 10 minutes left. Holmes missed the conversion, but the visitors still had an eight-point buffer at 22-14.

THE KNIGHTS managed to keep fellow strugglers Wests Tigers at bay with a hard-fought 14-10 win at Campbelltown.

The Knights had seemed destined for a comfortable win, running in three first-half tries to open a 14-0 lead at the break.

But the stubborn Tigers refused to lie down, scoring two of their own to set up a tense finish.