Granty
18-02-2008, 08:13 AM
http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2008/02/18/1620_local-sport-news.html
Teens push Pride in trial
Emma Greenwood
Monday, February 18, 2008
http://www.cairns.com.au/images/uploadedfiles/editorial/pictures/2008/02/17/CP18FEB08P034_MYG05699_PRID.jpg
Building Pride: Cairns player Greg Byrnes comes in for attention
from Cowboys under-20 players while (inset) Quincey To’o Too
dishes out some strong defence to North Queensland player Steve Elliot.
THE Northern Pride continues its winning pre-season form but coach Andrew Dunemann said the enormously beneficial match against the Cowboys highlighted the amount of work ahead.
The Pride arranged a last-minute trial against the North Queensland Cowboys’ under-20 side on Friday for Saturday after both clubs had their planned weekend practice matches cancelled because of poor weather.
The Pride recovered from a 20-8 deficit to win the match 26-20 and while pleased with the win, Dunemann said the match emphasised how much was still to do ahead of the Queensland Cup kick-off in a month.
"We fell down in a few areas today. I think it just highlighted that that we’ve got a lot of work to do, firstly, and also we’ve got some players who have played regularly at Queensland Cup level who stood up against a North Queensland Cowboys under-20 team who are very well coached," Dunemann said after the match.
"I think our blokes came here thinking they were under-20s and we were going to out-muscle them and they gave us a rude awakening.
"They were putting some good shots on us and livened a few of us up and I think it was a really good hitout for us."
Dunemann had planned to run four different sides against Mackay in the four quarters of their planned trial at Moranbah.
He used a squad of 22 against the Cowboys and was impressed by the strong combination on the field in the final 20 minutes that pulled the match back in the Pride’s direction.
"The benefit of that trial was enormous for us," Dunemann said. "If we didn’t play we’d have had to go into next week’s game against the Cowboys (under-20) team again probably a bit underdone and without that physical hitout.
"In that last quarter when we did have a really good side out there that I envisage will play a lot of footy for us this year, I think they really stepped up and got us back in there."
Front-rower Ben Laity scored under the posts in the minute before the three-quarter time drinks break to pull the Pride back to 20-14 and the locals dominated the final 20 minutes, running in three unanswered tries to take the match.
Dunemann and other club officials were forced into a deal of last-minute planning on Friday and Saturday to get the trial off the ground and spent several hours at the Mann St grounds on Saturday morning getting the field fit for the match.
Club sponsor Skytrans flew the Cowboys from Townsville, a game-saving move considering the bus company engaged to bring Townsville Brothers players north for a trial against Cairns Brothers refused to take to the highway for fear of monsoonal conditions cutting the highway on the return trip.
NORTHERN PRIDE 26 (Hezron Murgha 2, Chey Bird, Ben Laity, Eric Warria, Drew Campbell tries; Stephen Sheppard goal) d COWBOYS UNDER-20s 20 (Brady Payne, Ricky Griffiths 2, Brandon Boor tries; Chris Riesen 2 goals). Reports: Noel Underwood (Pride) dangerous tackle.
Teens push Pride in trial
Emma Greenwood
Monday, February 18, 2008
http://www.cairns.com.au/images/uploadedfiles/editorial/pictures/2008/02/17/CP18FEB08P034_MYG05699_PRID.jpg
Building Pride: Cairns player Greg Byrnes comes in for attention
from Cowboys under-20 players while (inset) Quincey To’o Too
dishes out some strong defence to North Queensland player Steve Elliot.
THE Northern Pride continues its winning pre-season form but coach Andrew Dunemann said the enormously beneficial match against the Cowboys highlighted the amount of work ahead.
The Pride arranged a last-minute trial against the North Queensland Cowboys’ under-20 side on Friday for Saturday after both clubs had their planned weekend practice matches cancelled because of poor weather.
The Pride recovered from a 20-8 deficit to win the match 26-20 and while pleased with the win, Dunemann said the match emphasised how much was still to do ahead of the Queensland Cup kick-off in a month.
"We fell down in a few areas today. I think it just highlighted that that we’ve got a lot of work to do, firstly, and also we’ve got some players who have played regularly at Queensland Cup level who stood up against a North Queensland Cowboys under-20 team who are very well coached," Dunemann said after the match.
"I think our blokes came here thinking they were under-20s and we were going to out-muscle them and they gave us a rude awakening.
"They were putting some good shots on us and livened a few of us up and I think it was a really good hitout for us."
Dunemann had planned to run four different sides against Mackay in the four quarters of their planned trial at Moranbah.
He used a squad of 22 against the Cowboys and was impressed by the strong combination on the field in the final 20 minutes that pulled the match back in the Pride’s direction.
"The benefit of that trial was enormous for us," Dunemann said. "If we didn’t play we’d have had to go into next week’s game against the Cowboys (under-20) team again probably a bit underdone and without that physical hitout.
"In that last quarter when we did have a really good side out there that I envisage will play a lot of footy for us this year, I think they really stepped up and got us back in there."
Front-rower Ben Laity scored under the posts in the minute before the three-quarter time drinks break to pull the Pride back to 20-14 and the locals dominated the final 20 minutes, running in three unanswered tries to take the match.
Dunemann and other club officials were forced into a deal of last-minute planning on Friday and Saturday to get the trial off the ground and spent several hours at the Mann St grounds on Saturday morning getting the field fit for the match.
Club sponsor Skytrans flew the Cowboys from Townsville, a game-saving move considering the bus company engaged to bring Townsville Brothers players north for a trial against Cairns Brothers refused to take to the highway for fear of monsoonal conditions cutting the highway on the return trip.
NORTHERN PRIDE 26 (Hezron Murgha 2, Chey Bird, Ben Laity, Eric Warria, Drew Campbell tries; Stephen Sheppard goal) d COWBOYS UNDER-20s 20 (Brady Payne, Ricky Griffiths 2, Brandon Boor tries; Chris Riesen 2 goals). Reports: Noel Underwood (Pride) dangerous tackle.