The Northern Pride survived a second-half comeback from Wynnum-Manly to win their round 13 Intrust Super Cup clash 36-24 at Barlow Park on Saturday night.
However, it was another disappointing weekend for the Toyota Cowboys’ other ISC affiliate, Mackay Cutters, who lost 36-12 against Ipswich to fall six points adrift of the top five.
The Pride and Ipswich are level on 20 points on the ISC ladder, although the Cairns-based club have a postponed game in hand.
A great display of attacking football saw the Pride run in six tries and race to a 30-6 half-time lead against Wynnum, with halfback Sam Obst having a night to remember.
Winger Justin Castellaro, in for Kyle Feldt who was 18th man for the Cowboys against Canberra, scored two early tries, the second the result of a brilliant Obst kick on the first tackle which caught the Seagulls defence napping.
When Tyrone McCarthy, Davin Crampton and Blake Leary all bustled their way over, the Pride found themselves 26-0 up with just 30 minutes on the clock.
Wynnum-Manly finally got on the scoresheet through Jon Grieve, but Shaun Nona's superb dummy close to the line extended the Pride's lead at the break.
The visitors came out with much more purpose after the interval, with interchange forward Dylan Smith and five-eighth Ben Cronin both scoring to eat into the Pride’s lead.
However, Pride co-captain Jason Roos stemmed the tide and eased the hosts’ nerves when he went over from close range on the hour mark.
In the televised Sunday game, Ipswich dominated the first 40 minutes to lead 24-0 at the break.
Chris Ulugia scored the Cutters’ first points with 25 to go but it was a short respite for the reigning premiers, who were trailing by 30 when Cowboys NRL squad member Zac Santo went over off a kick near full time.
NORTHERN PRIDE 36 (Justin Castellaro 2, Shaun Nona, Jason Roos, Blake Leary, Tyrone McCarthy, Davin Crampton tries; Shaun Nona 4 goals) def WYNNUM MANLY SEAGULLS 24 (Jordan Kahu, Ben Cronin, Jon Grieve, Dylan Smith tries; Matt Seamark 4 goals) at Barlow Park.
IPSWICH JETS 36 (Marmin Barba 2, Kurt Capewell, Nemani Valekapa, Brendon Marshall, Dane Phillips, Matt Parcell tries; Wes Conlon 4 goals) def MACKAY CUTTERS 12 (Zac Santo, Chris Ulugia tries; Liam Taylor 2 goals) at Mackay Stadium.
