NYC Knights given the runaround by Cowboys

The NYC Newcastle Knights suffered a disappointing 54-12 loss to the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville on Saturday afternoon.

The home side stamped their dominance in the first 40 minutes delivering a punishing 32 points before continuing the scoring attack in the second stanza adding another 22 points.

In the first few minutes the Cowboys got on the board, centre Kurt Wiltshire handling the grubber to cross the line for a try, before another came via captain Mitch Dunn with a break down the left side in the eighth minute. The Cowboys led the Knights 10-0.

The home side kept firing with another just after the ten-minute mark, Cowboys forward Calum Gahan crashing over the line, Jake Clifford booting the conversion to stretch the lead to 16-0.

In the 19^th minute, Cowboys halfback Jake Clifford capitalised on a Knights mistake to grab their fourth try just by the post before a 70-metre dash saw the ball land in the hands of winger Michael Carroll to cross over. The Cowboys lead 28-0.

The scoring assault continued as Carroll crossed over for his second 30 minutes in before the Knights first try came with 30 seconds to go until the half time siren, fullback Matt Cooper threading through the defence to dive over for the try.

The Cowboys led the Knights 32-6 at the break.

In the 43^rd minute, North Queensland winger Murray Taulaqi crashed over out wide before Carroll and Clifford added another two to the tally to lead the Knights 48-6, 56 minutes in.

Jack Johns put some points on the board for Newcastle 63 minutes in, side stepping his way across the line but the Cowboys had the final say, Cody Maughan crashing over in the final minute.

The Cowboys win 54-12.

Summary

Knights 12 (T: Cooper, Johns, G: Johns 2/2)

Cowboys 54

Knights

1. Matt Cooper, 2. Mitch Andrews, 3. Brayden Musgrove, 4. Heath Gibbs, 22. Lachlan Farr, 6. Jack Johns, 7. Hayden Loughrey, 8. Cameron King, 18. Nash Birch, 10. Pasami Saulo, 11. Henry Penn, 12. Sam McIntyre, 13. Dylan Clark. Interchange: 14. Josh Ralph, 15. Matt Croker, 16. Jayden Butterfield, 17. Eddy Tuilotolava.