PRIDE’S LAST GASP VICTORY
SWAMPED by his teammates as the Steeden sailed through the sticks, Northern Pride prodigy Jake Clifford’s legend just keeps growing, willing his side to an unlikely 30-28 victory after the siren over the Burleigh Bears.
Still yet to debut at NRL level, North Queensland Cowboys coach Paul Green must be close to blooding the Tully tyro, whose right-footed conversion won the game for the visitors on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at Pizzey Park.
Despite losing backrower Tom Hancock and skipper Ryan Ghietti early in the match, the Pride led 18-6 early in the second half, before the home side scored four unanswered tries in the second half. Faced with a 28-18 deficit, Ty Williams’ men dug in for the final stanza, showing a stoicism reminiscent of the legendary Pride sides of yesteryear, responding with the final two tries to claim their best win of the season.
The Pride were inspired early and the Bears defence insipid with Cowboy ring-in Ben Hampton’s runs sure to make for horror viewing in Burleigh’s match review this week.
Hampton was named man- of-the match for his two-try performance but Clifford was the hero, with the super-sized five-eighth showing poise and creativity with ball in hand throughout the match.
Trailing 28-24 in the 79th minute a desperate David Murphy offload gave the Pride a sniff with Clifford setting up Gideon Gela-Mosby for the final try of the game in the corner. An ecstatic Williams said Clifford’s subsequent conversion to seal the win shows the young playmaker’s commitment to his craft.
“Young Jake practices those kicks a fair bit during the week,” he said.
“I think he’s just got to be patient (for an NRL call-up). I’m sure he’ll get one shortly. “Playing in the big games and big moments like that is only going to help him.
“Obviously the boys are ecstatic to come here and win. We’re stoked to beat a really good team. We were down and out there for a while.”
After being omitted from the Cowboys side to take on the Eels, Hampton and Javid Bowen flew from Darwin to Cairns on Friday afternoon, then on to Brisbane to make it in time for the televised clash.
The Mareeba junior said the Pride’s never-say-die attitude was infectious.
“We fought the whole time and came through right at the end, so credit to us boys,” Hampton said. “Jake’s got a big boot on him … I watch him slot those at Cows training all the time, so I was confident he was going to get it.”
After giving up the opening try of the match, a cheeky punt off the outside of Clifford’s right boot caught Bears winger Troy Leo napping in the 12th minute, nearly yielding the Pride’s opening try.
Clifford imposed himself on the contest with a deft intercept setting up Murray Taulagi to level the scores at 6-all.
With Ghietti failing to answer two questions during a head injury assessment on the sidelines, stand-in hooker Connor Jones scored a try in his absence to give the Pride a 12-6 lead at the break.
The Pride’s hot streak rolled on in the second half when Hampton made the Bears look like witch’s hats after collecting a high ball to run the length of the field to make it 18-6.
But four tries in 13 minutes gave the Bears a seemingly unassailable lead.
Enter Hampton yet again. With just 11 minutes to go the star fullback scored again, paving the way for Gela-Mosby’s unforgettable try.