Barba treble helps Bulldogs sink Cowboys
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Three tries from Ben Barba has inspired Canterbury to a ninth successive NRL win with a 32-18 victory over North Queensland at ANZ Stadium on Saturday.
The Cowboys fought their way back from an 18-6 halftime deficit to draw level at 18-18 after 63 minutes but the Bulldogs ran away with the win in the final few minutes.
After Krisnan Inu booted a penalty to break the deadlock, winger Sam Perrett crossed in the 76th minute and Barba went over for his third in the 78th minute to maintain the Bulldogs’ spot at the top of the ladder.
Barba scored his 15th try of the year in the 13th minute when he burst onto a Josh Reynolds offload and raced 50m untouched after the Canterbury five-eighth had stepped his way through the Cowboys line.
North Queensland hit back in the 17th minute when Johnathan Thurston switched play left to the Cowboys’ short side 10m out from the Canterbury line and Matt Bowen put through an angled kick for Kane Linnett to score.
Barba scored his second try of the night in almost identical fashion to his first when a James Graham pass from a scrum on the Bulldogs 20m line sent Josh Jackson upfield and he dished off to a flying Barba who raced 45m for a converted try and for the Dogs to regain the lead 12-6 after 29 minutes.
Six minutes later Inu outjumped Linnett chasing a Reynolds kick for a benefit-of-the-doubt try and, after the former Warrior converted, the Bulldogs had stretched their lead to 12.
The Cowboys opened the scoring in the second half eight minutes in when Antonio Winterstein chased through a Thurston kick that bounced away from Barba to close the gap to 18-12 with Thurston’s conversion.
Matt Bowen produced a try saver on Brett Morris in the 53rd minute before Thurston dummied his way over from close range in the 62nd minute for his first try of 2012.
Thurston converted to tie the scores up at 18-18, but the Bulldogs didn’t panic and duly sealed victory.
© AAP 2013The Crowd Says (4) | Page 1 of Comments
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July 29th 2012 @ 7:39am
steve b said | July 29th 2012 @ 7:39am | Report comment
i can remember the drama when Des left Manly ,,everyone had an opinion most of them negative towards the Dogs chances with Des,, well where are they now .I will tell you where eating their words ..The Dogs look like the team that will go all the way in 2012 ..
July 29th 2012 @ 10:39am
Damn Straight said | July 29th 2012 @ 10:39am | Report comment
Barba is leaving the 2009 Hayne train/plane for dead. He is an absolute freak of nature. Dare i say, i wish we had him at Parramatta.
Des is really on top of his game at the moment. It’s not just his knowledge of the game or his tactical nous, it’s his ability to find the strengths/weaknesses and skill sets of each individual player, then tailor a team structure around that. Also, he is obviously well respected and liked by the playing roster…if the boys don’t like you, they won’t put in their hearts and souls. Isn’t that right Brian Smith.
July 29th 2012 @ 8:07pm
Gerry@YourLawnAndGarden said | July 29th 2012 @ 8:07pm | Report comment
All I can say is, “Doggeez!”.
July 29th 2012 @ 10:04pm
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League said | July 29th 2012 @ 10:04pm | Report comment
Cowboys didn’t play too badly in this one. The score was 18-18 with about 10 minutes to play. A couple of unkind bounces allowed the Dogs to get from their end to the other end and secure a repeat set.The pressure the Dogs put on Thurston caused a couple of fumbles that prevented the Cowboys from getting back done the other end.
I think the Cowboys are a top four side. They’ll go on to defeat the Sea Eagles next week and win all of their remaining games. I think the top four will look something like this at the end of the season.
1. Bulldogs
2. Rabbitohs
3. Storm
4. Cowboys
I expect Cronulla to fizzle out. Broncos should finish at 5th or 6th, alongside Manly.