Origin II: by the clock
June 17, 2004
STATE of Origin II by the clock between Queensland and NSW at Suncorp Stadium last night.
First half:
1m: Queensland hooker Cameron Smith kicks offs.
4m: NSW winger Timana Tahu scores the opening try after Maroons fullback Rhys Wesser fails to control a Matt Gidley grubber which bounces awkwardly. Craig Fitzgibbon's conversion attempt hits the left upright. NSW 4-0.
9m: Blues fullback Anthony Minichiello is denied a try because his team-mate and decoy runner Nathan Hindmarsh impedes the Queensland defence.
11m: Maroons butcher a try as Dane Carlaw throws a poor pass to winger Billy Slater when the NSW defensive line was stretched.
16m: Wesser drops a towering Brett Finch bomb and NSW regain possession. Seconds later Fitzgibbon kicks a goal after the Maroons are penalised for a leg pull on Brent Kite. NSW 6-0.
20m: Wesser saves a try with a text-book cover tackle on NSW winger Luke Rooney, who looked set to score in the left corner after running onto a Brad Fittler pass. Rooney ignored Finch inside him.
30m: Hindmarsh makes a 60m run on the second tackle and is hauled down by Chris Flannery. A few plays later Wesser does well to clean up a Craig Wing grubber and get back into the field of play.
34m: Slater scores Queensland's first try, running onto a Wesser inside ball and then sprinting 20m to line. Smith converts to level the scores. NSW 6 QLD 6.
37m: The Maroons show desperate defence to stop NSW from scoring following a Tahu bust. Rooney kills the momentum by kicking a grubber which goes dead.
40m: The deadly Gidley-Tahu combination strikes again on the back of a incisive dummy-half run from NSW skipper Danny Buderus. Gidley got on the outside of Flannery and Slater came in off his wing, allowing Gidley to flick pass to Tahu, who raced 30m to score in the right corner. Fitzgibbon converts from the sideline.
NSW 12-6 at halftime.
Second half:
41m: Fittler kicks off for the Blues.
44m: Willie Tonga scoops up a long ball from Maroons skipper Darren Lockyer and scores in the left corner following a charging run by prop Shane Webcke. Smith's conversion attempt fails to reach the posts. NSW 12-10.
51m: Queensland halfback Scott Prince makes a break and passes inside to Flannery, who looked certain to score but dropped the ball with the try-line beckoning.
56m: Fittler penalised for illegally stripping the ball from Maroons prop Steve Price. Lockyer misses the penalty goal from 20m out and right of the sticks.
63m: Slater scores a try with a piece of individual brilliance. The winger regathers a Lockyer grubber on the halfway line, chips and regathers his own kick to score near the posts to put the home side in front for the first time. Prince converts. QLD 16-12.
67m: Two-try hero Slater puts a shoulder charge on Tahu, preventing his opposite number from scoring a hat-trick of tries.
68m: Maroons forward Dane Carlaw scores after picking up a Lockyer bomb after it was dropped by Tahu. Prince unsuccessful in his conversion attempt. QLD 20-12.
73m: Rooney brushes off Matt Sing to score in the left corner following a Willie Mason. Fitzgibbon converts under pressure to narrow the gap to two points and set up a thrilling finish.
77m: Fittler cut-out pass goes behind Rooney and over the sideline, giving Queensland vital possession.
79m: Blues pair Lewis and Fittler penalised for illegal strip on Maroons centre Paul Bowman 21m out from their own line. Smith lands the penalty goal with 20 seconds left on the clock.
80m: Blues kick-off too deep, Smith takes tackle. Maroons win 22-18.
Final score: QLD 22 NSW 18.
AAP
