League: Cowboys lengthen winning streak over NZ Warriors

North Queensland today lengthened their National Rugby League winning streak over the New Zealand Warriors with a 32-22 victory at Ericsson Stadium in Auckland.

They outscored the Warriors five tries to four, clinching the match with two late efforts, to interchange back Rod Jensen, his second of the match, and fullback Matt Bowen.

The victory was the fourth in succession for the Cowboys over the Warriors, who had to battle a penalty count of 9-4 in the first half when the visitors built a 20-10 lead.

The Cowboys dominated possession early on thanks to three consecutive penalties and raced out to a 6-0 advantage after seven minutes, before the Warriors had touched the ball.

After a Josh Hannay penalty to open the scoring, winger Ty Williams finished off a backline move in the corner.

The Cowboys extended their lead after 16 minutes, when second rower Steve Southern went over one out from the ruck for a converted try.

The Warriors hit back with centre Sione Faumuina setting up lock Monty Betham for a try.

But Faumuina had his 24th birthday celebrations dampened when he was put on report for a high tackle on Bowen. Hannay goaled the ensuing penalty to make the score 14-4.

The home side came back with a length-of-the field effort that began with fullback Jerome Ropati gathering a kick on his own goal line and sprinting clear.

It ended with prop Iafeta Paleaaesina bulldozing his way over the tryline by the goalposts.

Just minutes later, on the stroke of halftime, the Warriors suffered a big setback when Ropati dropped the ball in a heavy tackle.

The mistake allowed Jensen to score and help his side to a 20-10 lead at the interval.

Early in the second half, the Warriors closed the gap with winger Todd Byrne's first try for the club. A big carry by Paleaaesina was followed by Jones putting Bryne in a hole.

Then another new boy, former Cowboy Nathan Fien, got on the scoresheet when he was on hand to gather a loose ball on the North Queensland line to dot down and tie the scores.

Jones missed the conversion, but landed a penalty to push the Warriors into the lead for the first time.

Hannay's fifth goal from yet another penalty locked up the scores again, before the deadlock was broken with Jensen's second try after the Cowboys did well to keep the ball alive.

Bowen added the icing with his touchdown a minute from fulltime.

- NZPA