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Sport

1 April, 2021

Northern Pride: Toughing it out for a point

The Northern Pride will be pleased to have no football this weekend after last weekend’s drawn game against CQ Capras in Rockhampton.

By Peter McCullagh

Northern Pride: Toughing it out for a point - feature photo

The Northern Pride will be pleased to have no football this weekend after last weekend’s drawn game against CQ Capras in Rockhampton.

Pride Coach Ty Williams whilst pleased to come away from the game with one point in the bag, really felt they were not deserving of the win.

After missing the jump in the first half after a strong start by the Capras, the Pride showed determination in the final 20 minutes to secure a draw.

“I don’t think we deserved a point, but we found a way (back).

“Previously down 16-6 it might have been a bit of a drama, but the boys found a way, which is good,” he said.

The Capras started strong and controlled the game, creating opportunities and capitalising on the chances created.

After tries by Maika Tudravu and Jack Madden the Capras had set up a strong 10-0 lead halfway through the first half.

Ten before the halftime break, Pride’s Tom McGrath crossed for his first carrer try and the gap was bridged to only 4 points.

The half-time lead blew out to 16-6 after another Capra try was converted after Charles Sheppard crossed for the Capras’ third try for the half.

The Pride sheds were calm at half-time. Although they bombed three chances in the first half, the players and coaching staff were not rattled or frustrated. The second half reflected a stronger and more determined mindset from the Pride.

Shawn Bowen scored in the 65th minute, reducing the margin to 4 points, however a penalty goal from Brown for the Capras saw the lead blow out again to 6 points.

With seven minutes to go, Jayden Hodges crossed, and Tom Steadman converted locking the scores up at 18 all.

Williams said he was pleased with his side’s composure to rally from a double-digit deficit and credited the contribution of recruit Hodges.

“We created more than enough chances to score points in the first half but just didn’t execute, so I just said to the boys to keep applying pressure and then we were able to score late in the game,” Williams said.

“Jayden [Hodges] was involved in a couple of big moments in the game, he scored the try at the end, but also set up the try for Tom McGrath as well.

“He played some big minutes tonight and I thought he showed his leadership skills to help us get back into a position to have an opportunity to level the game.”

One of the biggest takeaways for Williams from the game was the missed opportunities for the Pride.

“We had six chances to score tries where we should have scored, but we didn’t.

“A couple with the line clearly open, we need to ice them ones, we need to be better than that.

“But we created, we just got to finish it off,” he said.

The competition will take an Easter break after which the Pride have their first home game against Wynnum-Manly Seagulls on April 10.

The Seagulls currently are just ahead of the Pride in third on the ladder and will challenge the team. The next three rounds are tough for the Pride, facing the Seagulls (3rd), the Blackhawks (1st) and the Norths Devils (2).

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