2nd Elimination Final: NQL v WAR – by the clock

ELIMINATION FINAL TWO
Sunday 4:00pm AEST, 16th September 2007, @ Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville.
V
#3 NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
1-13: M Bowen, T Williams, A Graham, B Farrar, M Henry, Justin Smith, J Thurston (c), M Scott, A Payne, B Vaeau, S Faust, M Bartlett, P Bowman.
Bench: D Faiumu, Jason Smith, J Lillyman, R Cashmere.
Coach: Graham Murray.

#4 WARRIORS
1-13: W McKinnon, T Byrne, T Martin, S Mannering, M Crockett, M Witt, G Rovelli, S Rapira, G Gatis, S Price (c), R Wiki, W Koopu, M Luck.
Bench: L Swann, E Tuimavave, E Lauaki, N Fien.
Coach: Ivan Cleary.

A bumper crowd and some serious heat await the two teams for the 4pm kickoff. Warriors have rejected the drink breaks after 20 minutes of each half apparently.

FIRST HALF

1st Minute NQL – Mark Henry takes the first hitup from the kickoff and is stopped 10m out from his own line. Ruben Wiki lays all over him for an age but no penalty given. Carl Webb’s replacement in the run-on side Ben Vaeau also gets amongst it early leaving Micheal Luck in all sorts of trouble with blood coming from a head wound attempting the tackle. Matt Bowen’s first kick of the day sees Ashley Graham almost give the Cowboys a dream start in regathering the bouncing ball but he knocks on and the Warriors survive an eventful first minute of play.

2nd Minute WAR PENALTY – First Warriors set is a good one and finishes with Steven Price’s 2nd hitup being rewarded with a penalty. Warriors into the attacking half.

3rd Minute WAR – Michael Witt knocks on just a couple of tackles into the set 10m out from the Cowboys line.

4th Minute NQL PENALTY – Johnathan Thurston finds touch just over halfway after the Cowboys get a piggy back penalty. But Sam Faust is stripped by Sam Rapira and the Cowboys turn the ball over. Scrappy start to the game.

5th Minute WAR PENALTY – Thurston lifts Wairangi Koopu into a dangerous position and drives him into the turf. Thurston just gave himself a reason to sweat on the NRL judiciary if the Cowboys get up.

6th Minute WARRIORS TRY – Michael Crockett goes over in the left corner after some crisp ball movement from the resulting penalty. Tony Archer wants the grounding checked but it looks golden and the Warriors strike first.

WARRIORS TRY – M Crockett (1); S Price 2A Inside Ball to – W McKinnon pass to – R Wiki 2A Offload to – W McKinnon 2A Short Pass to – S Mannering 1A Short Pass to – M Crockett to score.
M Witt CONVERSION successful from the left touchline.

6-0 WARRIORS after 7 Minutes.