Draw salvages Northern Pride
THE Northern Pride remain unbeaten but their winning streak is over after escaping with a 12-all draw against the Ipswich Jets at North Ipswich Reserve on Saturday.
The Pride looked certain to suffer their first Queensland Cup loss since Round 13 last year when they trailed by six points with two minutes left.
But a mistake from Jets hooker Ian Lacey gifted the Pride possession 20m out from the try-line before second rower Mark Cantoni crashed over near the posts.
Fullback Chey Bird calmly slotted the conversion to level the scores and stretch the Pride’s unbeaten streak to 18 games.
Pride coach David Maiden said his team were lucky to leave Ipswich with a point.
"No excuses. I thought Ipswich played really well and it was our toughest game of the year by far," he said.
"They put us off our game plan and we didn’t adjust well at all.
"It’s a hollow satisfaction (getting the draw). Full credit to the guys because they were pretty fatigued.
"They had to get through a lot of a defence. They kept on scrambling well and never dropped their heads when they went behind.
"That’s the sign of a good side."
The Pride opened scoring in the 31st minute when second rower Joel Riethmuller pounced on a clever grubber kick from hooker James Segeyaro.
But the joy was short lived, with the home team replying five minutes later.
The Jets became the first team this season to score a first-half try against the Pride when bustling centre Joseph Tomane barged through three tacklers close to the line.
The sides went into the break locked at 6-all, with the Jets denied twice by the video referee within 15 minutes of the restart.
Poor handling kept the Pride locked in their own half and allowed Jets fullback Marshall Chalk to score what looked like the winning try in the 71st minute.
But the Jets had their own handling issues in the final minutes, with the home team coughing up the ball in three consecutive sets before Cantoni’s try.
Because of the split round, the Pride enjoy a weekend off before hosting Redcliffe at Barlow Park on May 8.
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Toughest so far: Ipswich Jets stop the Pride's Noel Underwood in a tough match at North Ipswich Reserve on Saturday. Picture: SCOTT POWICK, SMP IMAGES





















