Bulldogs Claw Back Against Cowboys in Gritty Townsville Thriller
What a wild ride that game was — seriously, one of those gritty, low-scoring clashes that had everything: defence, desperation, and drama. The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have managed to snatch a crucial 12-8 victory over the North Queensland Cowboys up in Townsville, and honestly, they earned every inch of that win.
Coming into this match, the Bulldogs had a cloud of uncertainty hanging over them after dropping back-to-back games. On top of that, coach Cameron Ciraldo made headlines by dropping mid-season recruit Lachie Galvin, a bold move considering the stakes. But it’s those high-risk decisions that sometimes turn into the sparks you need — and today, that gamble paid off.
The first half was a story of two completely different chapters. For the first 35 minutes, the Cowboys looked in control. They dominated territory, looked sharp in attack, and rightly led 8-0 after Zac Laybutt’s early try. But just as the Cowboys were looking comfortable, the Bulldogs hit back with a one-two punch in the dying minutes of the half. Jacob Preston got over the line, and then debutant Jethro Rinakama capitalised on a controversial forward-looking pass to give the Bulldogs a 12-8 halftime lead.
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The second half was something else entirely. No points were scored. But that doesn’t mean it was boring. Quite the opposite — it was a full-on defensive arm wrestle. Every time the Cowboys looked like they were going to break through, someone in blue and white stood tall. Rinakama, the teenage debutant, had a rollercoaster of a game but came up with two huge try-saving plays. One was a monster hit on Nanai, and the other, a crucial hand in disrupting a certain try out wide.
There were fumbles, close calls, bunker drama — and with less than a minute on the clock, it all came down to one final foot race. Cowboys’ winger Murray Taulagi chased a chip through, but Jacob Kiraz sprinted back, got there first, and knocked it dead. Siren. Game over.
Reuben Cotter summed it up well post-game: “Way too many errors. It’s a bit of a theme at the moment.” The Cowboys had their chances, but they let it slip through their fingers — literally, in some cases.
And let’s not overlook Bulldogs halfback Toby Sexton. He kept things calm when chaos was knocking, and his post-game comment nailed it: “It was a bit of a strange old game... but we closed out pretty well there.” That’s an understatement.
It wasn’t pretty, but it was gutsy. And sometimes, that’s the kind of win that defines your season.
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