Round 2
Redcliffe Dolphins 18 l. Northern Pride 32

2008 Wizard Queensland Cup Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats]

Location: Australia > Queensland > State/Metropolitan Level Competition: Wizard Queensland Cup

Northern Newcomers Crush Fins
Mon March 24, 2008
Source: www.qrl.com.au

Northern Pride has stamped itself as a genuine Wizard Cup premiership contender with a convincing 32-18 victory over the Redcliffe Dolphins.

Year after year Redcliffe has turned Dolphin Oval into a graveyard for visiting teams but it was the beaming Pride players who left the field amid a flurry of back slaps and high fives.

"It was our first big test really," Pride coach Andrew Dunemann said from outside a buzzing dressing room.

"We know we'll win a few games this year but we were coming into the unknown a bit today because we haven't played a team away from home.

"The boys, as I thought they would, got in there and played some pretty good footy.

"I thought the scoreboard could have been a bit more lopsided than what it was."

Ignited by a superb performance from Cowboys-contracted hooker David Faiumu, the Pride raced in three early tries to lead 16-4.

Faiumu had a hand in the first try of the match, with his clever grub kick leading to a Gorden Rattler four-pointer in the opening minutes.

The skilful rake was at it again midway through the first half when he sent a neat pass on to the chest of Matthew Bartlett.

Bartlett crashed over to put the Pride in front 16-4.

The try was the perfect response for the visiting side after Redcliffe's Liam Georgetown scored against the run of play.

Three of Redcliffe's four tries came from kicks, while the other came after a handling mistake from Pride fullback Chey Bird.

But that was Bird's only blemish.

The classy fullback made a number of sizzling kick returns and his last-ditch cover defence thwarted promising Redcliffe raids on two occasions.

The Pride led 16-12 at half-time and were in complete control upon the resumption following three quick tries to Warren Jensen, Josh Vaughan and Ty Williams.

Williams' try was a cracker.

Following a scrum win, the former Queensland winger put on a classic 'in and away' to leave a flat-footed Chris Fox in his wake.

As impressive as the try was, Faiumu was the real trump card for the Cairns-based club.

"He's a New Zealand international so he's going to obviously add to your team," Dunemann said.

"He came here with a really good attitude as did Ty (Williams). When they come with good attitudes it's easy for them to fit straight in and they did that.

"It's a dream for me because it's easy for blokes to come in and not have a good attitude. But I've been lucky so far. The ones that I've had have really good attitudes and they want to play here."

Hard working forwards Joel Reithmuller and Mark Cantoni also impressed Dunemann.

News sent by: www.qrl.com.au

Advanced Search