The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys under-20s continue to dominate all before them with a record-breaking win over the Canberra Raiders in today’s Round 21 National Youth Competition match at 1300SMILES Stadium.
A 46-6 half-time lead was converted into a mammoth 78-12-final result as Todd Payten’s young men ran in 12 tries in their second consecutive 50-point game following Monday’s 50-6 victory over the Eels.
The 66-point margin meant the result was the Cowboys’ biggest ever NYC win following a 58-10 win over the Rabbitohs in 2011 and a 54-6 triumph over the Eels in Round 13 of this season.
It fell short of the biggest ever NYC win by some margin with the 2012 Panthers team thumping Gold Coast 78-0.
Still, the Cowboys raced in 14 tries to two, including four to lightning-quick winger Gideon Mosby, who has now amassed 28 four-pointers for the season and is rapidly closing in on Jake Mullaney’s 2009 NYC record of 29 tries – with five regular season games remaining.
The massive win means the Cowboys have, for now, shot to the top of the NYC ladder with 15 wins, three losses and one draw from 19 matches, and an incredible for-and-against record of +423 points.
The scale of the victory also means a boost to the Cowboys’ club championship hopes with that competition’s for-and-against climbing to +517 points taking into account the National Rugby league team’s record so far this season.
Aside from Mosby, fellow winger Scott Schulte and fullback Yamba Bowie were multiple tryscorers,with both players posting doubles, while have Kyle Laybutt kicked nine goals from 12 attempts, including several from the sideline.
Utility Kalyn Ponga impressed in his second NYC match, the 17-year-ol crossing for a maiden try at this level as well as kicking a goal.
The Cowboys have scored 138 points and conceded 12 in their past two games, with the fourth-placed Raiders having now lost 78-12 and 64-8 in consecutive weeks.
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (Gideon Mosby 4, Yamba Bowie 2, Scott Schulte 2, Viliame Kikau, Ross Bella, Temone Power, Kalyn Ponga, Brandon Smith, Bill Cullen tries; Kyle Laybutt 9, Hess, Ponga goals) def CANBERRA RAIDERS 12 (Thomas Cronan, Daniel Dole tries; Cameron Booth 2 goals) at 1300SMILES Stadium.
