The Pride travelled south seeking their first win in Ipswich since 2009 and their first ever win at the North Ipswich Reserve in seven attempts and this time they proved successful – claiming a close 26-24 victory.
There was drama in the warm-up for the Jets with an injury to forward David Fa’alogo, which meant the return of Liam Capewell to the home side’s line up. The Pride was unchanged from the programed side.
Ipswich started the game well with a try in the first set when the Pride came up too fast and five-eighth Haydan Lipp took advantage by rolling it into the in-goal for Rory Humphreys to score his first Intrust Super Cup try.
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The Jets kept attacking, asking constant questions of the Pride defence by stringing some passes together before Carlin Anderson scored in his 50th game for the Jets. Lipp converted to have his side off to the perfect start and leading 10-0 after nine minutes.
In response, the Pride raided the Jets’ goal-line defence and found the Jets wanting when in his 100th game, captain Ryan Ghietti scooted over and opened the scoring for the Pride.
From the kick-off, the Pride attacked Jets’ style and scored when Jack Svendsen finished a great movement. The visitors had recovered to now lead 12-10 after 20 minutes.
However, Jets’ half and captain Dane Phillips put up a pinpoint kick for noted try-scorer Marmin Barba who flew high above Luke George to collect then plant the ball over the line to get the Jets the lead again 14-12.
But that shortened to 18-14 in the 38rd when former Jet Ahwang scored from a neat grubber for himself that he chased and used his huge reach to get to first.
The Jets took the initiative and took the ball from a short-kick off and spread the ball to the right for Richard Pandia who went over in the right hand corner. With the kick waved away, scores were leve 18-18 at halftime.
Phillips got the second half started exactly how the Jets wanted when his kick ricocheted off the posts for collection. Lipp converted the resultant try and the Jets led 24-18 after 49 minutes.
Pride’s interchange player Colin Wilkie scored in his club debut to get it to 24-24 and the game was all locked up again with 20 minutes left.
Ipswich were make to absorb considerable pressure on their own line, tackling Pride raid after Pride raid after they gave away back-to-back penalties to give the Pride prime real estate.
Pride v Jets game always throw up something and this time the drama would come after the home side were forced to drop out, and Michael Purcell scooted through to collect the ball and race the 90m for what he believed the winning try – except the referee had his arm in the air signalling the Jets had touched the ball before it had travelled the 10m.
This resulted in a penalty to the Pride which they kicked with seven minutes left.
Those two points proved too much for the Jets to overcome and the Pride had finished with a rare win at the North Ipswich Reserve.
For the final team lists for this game – head to QRL Live
NORTHERN PRIDE 26 (Ryan Ghietti, Jack Svendsen, Khan Ahwang, Colin Wilkie tries; Khan Ahwang 5 goals) def IPSWICH JETS 24 (Rory Humphreys, Carlin Anderson, Marmin Barba, Richard Pandia, Dane Phillips tries; Haydan Lipp 2 goals) at North Ipswich Reserve.
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