Round 11
Ipswich Jets 16 l. Northern Pride 30

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

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

Pride returns for Northern
Sun May 25, 2008
Source: www.qrl.com.au

A willing Northern Pride team has gate crashed Ipswich's home town party, scoring five tries to three on their way to a season defining 30-16 victory over the Jets at the Briggs Road complex.

With backing from the Ipswich City Council, the Jets threw the gates open to the public and a big crowd turned out in support of the home team for the round 11 Wizard Cup clash.

But the Pride didn't give Jets fans much to cheer about on their way to their eighth victory of the season.

This win was perhaps the Pride's most important of the year as it snapped a two match losing streak.

Wounded Jets skipper Danny Coburn was full of praise for the visitors.

"They were pretty impressive," said Coburn, who faces a number of weeks on the sideline with a calf injury.

Coburn, who has only recently returned from an ankle problem, limped from the field in the third minute.

"I'm not having a good run at the moment," Coburn conceded.

In a further blow, the Jets also face the prospect of being without key forward Leigh Coghill for a month.

The former Queensland Country back-rower also tore a calf muscle.

Jets coach Kevin Walters would have loved to have had the pair on the park in the second half.

The Pride led 16-10 at the break and controlled the game superbly in the second half through their mobile forwards and slick backs.

Chey Bird scored two tries and kicked five goals in another outstanding performance from the back for the Pride.

The Jets struggled to contain giant Pride forwards Ben Vaeau and Scott Bolton at times.

"I thought our defence was disappointing late in the game, especially in the ruck area," Coburn said.

The loss has now seen the Jets slip to third behind the Pride and Souths Logan.

"We've got a week off so we can recover and then we've got Wynnum. The Wynnum game will be a big one for us," Coburn said.

"Hopefully we can get back on track. I don't think we're too far away."

Report Source: www.qrl.com.au

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