Norths finished their first block of the Hostplus Cup season by surging past Northern Pride 32-14 on a drenched Bishop Park on Saturday night.
It was the Devils’ third win from as many games this season, leaving the premiers on top of the ladder before next week’s bye.
The Devils have built into the season under coach Rohan Smith, scoring 21 tries and conceding nine in their wins over Western Clydesdales, Souths Logan and the Pride.
Last night was a tough clash on a sodden ground against a Pride team with five fulltime Cowboys players seeking its first win of the season. NRL players Zac Laybutt and Tom Duffy were among the Pride contingent.
The Devils kept the Pride at arm’s length and sealed the match when captain Kierran Moseley finished a sharp movement from halves Sean O’Sullivan and Ben Stevanovic in the 76th minute.
Moseley, who again steered the Devils around the ground, started the movement from dummy-half and splashed over to complete another gritty win early in the season.
Forward Peter Hola became the eighth Devils debutant for the season while NRL State Championship player-of-the-match Oryn Keeley played his first match for Norths this season.
The Pride were another good test for Smith’s Devils after they claimed the minor premiership last season, finishing four wins clear of the field.
“This competition has some very good players and every win has to be earnt,” Smith said. “The conditions were testing and it was a good chance for the squad to experience different conditions against a quality team.”
The Devils struck early when Blake Paskins scored in the left corner in the fourth minute and 20th minute.
Like they did against Souths Logan last weekend, the Devils scored three unanswered tries to build a buffer.
Fullback Matthew Milson scored his first try of the season in the 25th minute, taking a pass from Keeley after the Devils again hunted down the left-hand side.
Winger Manase Kaho scored his fourth try of the season when he finished off an enterprising Devils’ play from an O’Sullivan midfield kick that was toed ahead by Jordan Lipp for Kaho to pounce.
Norths rejoiced in the 65th minutes when Devils junior Lauloto Salei scored his first Cup try, running an enterprising line off Moseley’s pass.
The Pride’s tries came in the 11th, 61st and 72nd minutes but the home team was too far ahead.
The Devils were well served across the field. Dolphins NRL lock Mason Teague again worked hard in a forward pack that included James Flack and Jerome Veve starting in the middle while second-rower Jackson Shereb played his first home game for Norths.
The Devils bench, including Sam Elliott and Justin Makirere, were effective and created room for a backline steered by O’Sullivan and Stevanovic in his first appearance at Bishop Park.
After next weekend’s bye, the Devils travel to the Sunshine Coast to meet the Falcons. Norths have not beaten Sunshine Coast on the road since 2017
NORTHS DEVILS 32 (Blake Paskins 2, Matthew Milson, Manase Kaho, Lauloto Salei, Kierran Moseley tries, Jordan Lipp 4 goals) bt NORTHERN PRIDE 14 (Ricco Falaniko, Dane Aukafolau, Jarrett Subloo tries, Tom Duffy goal) at Bishop Park
Photo by Alan Drinnen
