Under 20s in bitter defeat

THE Cowboys’ last National Youth Competition campaign is over after they were upset 30- 16 by Manly in an often spiteful elimination final at Allianz Stadium yesterday.

Having squandered a top four spot by giving up a big lead to Brisbane last week, the fifth- placed Cowboys were still expected to account for a Manly outfit which only squeezed into eighth on for and against.

But a double to centre Tevita Funa propelled Manly to the upset victory, ending North Queensland’s season.

It is likely to be lock Corey Horsburgh’s final game in Cowboys colours with reports he has signed a development deal with Canberra.

After 20 minutes, Cowboys halfback Jake Clifford opened the scoring with a solo dart 15 minutes out from the tryline.

Seven minutes later the Sea Eagles levelled scores at 6- all when five- eighth Tom Wright burst through off a scrum 10m out after Cowboys winger Murray Taulagi made an error.

Soon after Manly grabbed the lead for the first time when lock Haumole Olakau’atu crashed over after the Cowboys conceded a penalty.

Eight minutes into the second half, star Cowboys fullback Kalyn Ponga, back after a period out with a shoulder injury, set up a try for winger Murray Taulagi with a superb grubber to reduce the deficit to 12- 10.

However Manly didn’t take long to restore breathing space 16- 10 when Cowboys winger Michael Carroll spilt a high ball with Funa on hand to score. On the hour mark, the Cowboys were burned by the high ball again when a hesitant Ponga failed to take it, with Manly winger Bilal Maarbani capitalising to extend the lead to 20- 10.

And when Zaan Weatherall made a break from dummy half to put Funa over for his second, it was effectively the deathknell for the Cowboys’ season in the final year of the Holden Cup.

With 11 minutes left, Cowboys skipper Mitch Dunn gave his side some hope when he dummied and strolled over to close the gap to 26- 16.

But Manly back rower Blake Andrews put the game to bed when he ran 60m to score after plucking a Cowboys chip kick out of the air.

MANLY SEA EAGLES 30 ( Tevita Funa 2, Tom Wright, Haumole Olakau’atu, Bilal Maarbani, Blake Andrews tries; Funa 3 goals)

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS 16 ( Jake Clifford, Murray Taulagi, Mitch Dunn tries; Clifford 2 goals) at Allianz Stadium