SPORT sundayterritorian.com.au Cowboys deliver Eels a hiding THE North Queensland Cowboys continued Parra- matta’s horror start to the season last night, handing them a 36-point belting at Dairy Farmers Stadium. The Eels are winless from three rounds after strug- gling to deal with the wet and slippery conditions in Townsville to go down 42-6. Missing Jarryd Hayne and Fuifui Moimoi with knee injuries, Parramatta battled to put on any attack- ing pressure. The Cowboys dealt with the conditions better, PUB: running in eight tries in- cluding three to winger Ash Graham. Matt Scott started the rout NT NEWS with a try after 15 minutes before exciting youngster Jason Taumalolo bashed his way past five Eels defenders to score with his first touch of the game. Taumalolo then charged DATE: downfield once more to set up Graham’s second with his next touch. Fullback Matt Bowen 18-MAR-2012 Melbourne fullback Billy Slater puts the burst on Titan William Zillman in the Storm’s 24-point win on the Gold Coast last night Picture: MICHAEL ROSS showed just how slippery the conditions were when he slid seven metres after picking up a Johnathan Thurston grubber to cross three minutes before the break and give the home side a 26-point half- time buffer. PAGE: Magnificent Slater Parramatta was the first to respond after the break, with bench forward Pat O’Hanlon accepting a tidy 52 inside ball from halfback Chris Sandow to cross on COLOR: 56 minutes. leads Storm surge Kane Linnett then bagged his first try of his Cowboys career, crossing in the cor- RUGBY LEAGUE The clash was tight in the clutches of Jordan Rankin be- don’t think I’ve seen better — SCORES ner on 71st minutes after first half with Melbourne up fore grounding the ball just no I haven’t,’’ he said. some quick hands. C THE accolades flowed for 4-0 at the break. before the dead-ball line. While captain Cameron MELBOURNE 30 (M Duffie 2 B Slater 2 Graham added his third, breathtaking Melbourne star Slater blew the game open ‘‘He’s freakish, absolutely Smith said his forwards had S Manu A Quinn tries; C Smith 2 G and the Cowboys’ seventh, M Billy Slater after he broke the in the second half. freakish — the best I’ve ever set up victory with a brick- Widdop goals) d GOLD COAST 6 (S of the night when he grab- Michaels try; S Prince goal) at Skilled all-time try scoring record for He left the crowd of 11,254 seen,’’ said losing coach John wall defence in the first half, bed a James Segeyaro kick Y Park. Referees: Jason Robinson, Gavin a fullback in the Storm’s 30-6 — and William Zillman — Cartwright. Slater stole the show and was Reynolds. Crowd: 11,254. before Gavin Cooper fin- K win over the Gold Coast at mesmerised when he rocket- Storm coach Craig Bellamy delighted to grab the record. ished the game off with a try Skilled Parklast night. ed past the Titans fullback in joked he wasn’t old enough to ‘‘I wasn’t aware of it going NORTH QUEENSLAND 42 (A Graham in the 80th minute to com- 3 M Bowen G Cooper K Linnett M Scott J Slater’s double took his the 65th minute to score. go back 100 years but said into the game but it’s some- Taumalolo tries; J Thurston 5 goals) d pound the Eels misery. NRL career try tally to 130 — His second try in the 71st he’d seen the likes of champ- thing I’m pretty proud of ac- PARRAMATTA 6 (P O’Hanlon try; C Hooker Segeyaro will go one more than former Pen- minute was even more amaz- ion fullbacks Graeme Lang- tually,’’ Slater said. ‘‘To hold Sandow goal) at Dairy Farmers before the match review Stadium. Referees: Chris James, Adam rith fullback Rhys Wesser’s ing, racing after a Cameron lands, Garry Jack, Graham a record like that is credit to Devcich. Crowd: 8239. committee after a late best — and his total from just Smith kick and grabbing it Eadie and Gary Belcher. the players around me who shoulder charge on Eels three games in 2012 to six. with one hand from the ‘‘I saw all those guys and I have created all those tries.’’ pivot Ben Roberts. Roar keep the pace Mariners find way Heart into playoffs BRISBANE kept themselves SCORES BERNIE Ibini netted his SCORES MELBOURNE Heart have SCORES in contention for the sixth goal of the A-League booked their first A-League A-League Premier’s Plate BRISBANE ROAR 2 (Besart Berisha campaign giving the Central CENTRAL COAST MARINERS 1 finals berth, despite Sydney MELBOURNE HEART 2 (Mate beating Newcastle 2-1 at 13m, Mitch Nichols 82m pen) d Coast Mariners a dramatic (Bernie Ibini-Isei 47m) d ADELAIDE FC substitute Shannon Cole Dugandzic 31m, Eli Babalj 36m) drew Hunter Stadium last night. NEWCASTLE JETS 1 (Ali Abbas 40m) 1-0 victory over a resurgent UNITED 0 at Bluetongue Stadium. scoring twice to snatch a with SYDNEY FC 2 (Shannon Cole at Hunter Stadium. Crowd: 11,471. Crowd: 7,275. Referee: Ben Williams. 66m, 77m) at AAMI Park. Crowd: The Jets’ defeat leaves the Referee: Jarred Gillett. Adelaide United in Gosford. comeback draw at AAMI 7,498. Referee: Strebre Delovski. door open for Sydney, who However, with Brisbane’s Park last night. sit one point behind in sev- 2-1 victory over Newcastle, Bruce Djite nearly had the The Sky Blues remained in enth place, to snatch their chance of the match only the premiership will be visitors off to a dream start seventh spot, despite show- them next weekend. The finals berth. eight minutes in when he decided on the final day of in just the fourth minute, ing typical fighting spirit to Heart scored twice in five With league leaders the found himself in an eternity the season. but he was unable to direct turn a two-goal half-time minutes in the first half. Central Coast posting a 1-0 of space to line up his shot Riding high on confidence his header past Mat Ryan. deficit into a 2-2 result. First, a clever 31st-minute win over Adelaide, the but sent it wide, with Jeremy after pushing the Roar to a The home side came out That means they still need chip from captain Fred found second-placed Roar — who Brockie’s shot minutes later 1-1 draw last start, Adelaide firing in the second term to beat the Newcastle Jets at Mate Dugandzic in the pen- are two points adrift — are saved at the near post by were desperate to put a dent and found themselves in Allianz Stadium next Sun- alty area, Dugandzic’s sharp still in the running with one Roar gloveman Michael in the premiership aspirat- front just two minutes. day to reach the finals. left-footer rolling between game left. Theoklitos. ions of the Mariners. Bojic delivered a While the fifth-placed the legs of Sydney goal- Albanian import Besart But it was the visitors who A brief but torrential perfectly-weighted cross Heart are only one point keeper Ivan Necevski. Berisha and Mitch Nichols broke the deadlock in the downpour shortly after which found Bernie Ibinin, clear of both the Jets and Fred and Dugandzic were scored for the visitors with 13th minute when Berisha, kickoff yesterday made con- and the youngster was good Sydney, their far superior again involved in the second the Jets’ Ali Abbas netting on the end of a Jack Hingert ditions very slippery, and enough to steer his header goal difference to the Sky goal. Fred’s perfect long ball one in reply. ball, scored his 19th goal of the home side were content past a stranded Eugene Blues means only one of put Dugandzic clear down Abbas had the first real the season. to play a possession game. Galekovic. those sides can overtake the right flank. 52 Sunday Territorian. Sunday, March 18, 2012. www.sundayterritorian.com.au.