Ivanhoes fight for Pride tie
CDRL premiers plea for supporters to turn out at trial
SPIRIT has never been lacking at Ivanhoes Rugby League Club and new president Alan Benn has urged fans of the club to show the same love for the Northern Pride this evening.
The Smithfield-based club will host the Intrust Super Cup club’s less-than-friendly trial with north Queensland rivals Townsville Blackhawks and officials are thrilled with the surface, regarded as one of the best fields in the region.
The reigning CDRL premiers were rewarded for their on-field efforts with grand final hero Troyson Bassini earning a Pride deal for 2017 and Benn said the club had to return that support with plenty of cheers from the sidelines.
“We’re expecting a pretty good turnout and the fields are looking spot on,” he said.
“It’s all about building our relationship with the Pride and creating that pathway for players. We really want to get behind the Pride. We want to keep reinforcing the connection with Ivanhoes and we’ve got a good coach, good com- mittee and things are moving in the right direction.”
Northern Pride coach Ty Williams will have his first look at 11 players in the match against the Blackhawks, including recruits Graham Clark and Darryn Schonig.
“Obviously it’s the second trial so guys like Sheldon Powe-Hobbs and Ryan Ghietti will get some time and Darryn Schonig will get a run as well as Graham Clark,” Williams said. PRIDE 20-MAN SQUAD: Khan Ahwang, Jared Allen, Troyson Basinni, Jordan Biondi-Odo, Jack Brock, Graham Clark, Aidan Day, Luke George, Ryan Ghietti, Tom Hancock, Connor Jones, Troy Kapea, Brad Lupi, Matthew Musumeci, Fred Koraba, Lachlan Parmenter, Sheldon Powe-Hobbs, Darryn Schonig, Bradley Stephen, Nathan Wales