Pride defeat Dolphins in entertaining encounter

The Dolphins started the better, winning the field position battle early. They were rewarded with first points when Setu Tu crossed in the left corner in the fifth minute. 

Jeremiah Simbiken scored shortly after off a Pride mistake to extend the lead, and it was looking like it could be a long night for the home side. 

However, the Pride hit back with consecutive tries of their own through second rowers Kenneth Fonoti and Connolly Lemuelu. They went into halftime with a slender 10-8 lead. 

After the break, a kick out on the full from the Pride gave the Dolphins an opportunity to regain the lead. A couple of repeat sets built pressure and eventually Justin Worley went over to put the Dolphins back in front. 

The two teams then each scored within the space of three minutes. Lemuelu and Tu both scored their second tries of the game. At this stage, the Dolphins had scored four tries to three, but only led by two points as a result of missed conversions. 

Heading into the final quarter, it was anyone's game, but it was the Pride who struck the next blow, with Lemuelu turning provider for Gideon Gela-Mosby who gave his team a 20-18 lead. 

Two more tries for the Pride, both on the last tackle, put them in a commanding position heading into the last 10 minutes. 

Redcliffe thought they were back in the game when Tu plucked a cross-field kick out of the air and reached out to score, but he was ruled to be offside by the touch judge. 

The Pride managed to hang on and pick up their first home win of the season. The Dolphins have had four away games in a row, and finish winless from this stretch. 

The Pride will enjoy a week off next week, having the bye. 

The Dolphins return home next week to play Townsville Blackhawks.