Northern Pride claim tight win over Norths Devils
By Bart Padjasek and QRL Media
The Northern Pride passed a tough test at Bishop Park yesterday, holding on the beat the formidable Norths Devils in a close 22-20 matchup.
The Pride’s Gideon Gela-Mosby, Darryn Schonig, Bradley Stephen and Italy representative Joel Riethmuller contributed with a try each.
The Cairns squad managed to control the game in the first half, going up two tries to one in the first half to hold onto a tight 10-8 lead at the break, despite trailing 8-0 early on.
The Pride scored twice more to open the second half before the Devils could respond.
While the home side then mounted a mini-comeback with quick-fire tries in the 65th and 69th minutes, it was too little too late as they fell short of the victory.
After winning their first four matches of the season, this is the Norths third loss in a row and the Devils currently sit at seventh in the ladder.
For Round9, the Pride will prepare for a long trip on Saturday where they will take on the PNG Hunters at Port Moresby.
Coming off an impressive 42-6 victory over the Burleigh Bears, the Hunters will be full of confidence and will present a challenge to the NQ team.
The North Devils are also travelling next weekend and will head to Mackay’s BB Print Stadium on Sunday, to face the Cutters who are fresh off an upset win over the Tigers.
See the full scoring details and final team line-ups for the Norths v Pride game via QRL Live
NORTHERN PRIDE 22 (Gideon Gela-Mosby, Darryn Schonig, Bradley Stephen, Joel Riethmuller tries; Jordan Biondi-Odo 2, Bradley Stephen goals) def NORTHS DEVILS 20 (Dalton Phillips, Javarn White, Billy Brittain tries; Todd Murphy 2, Chris Sandow 2 goals) at Bishop Park.
