PNG Hunters down Burleigh Bears 30 -20

A determined SP Hunters team  ran riot with 6 tries to beat  the competition leaders Burleigh Bears in round 22 of the Intrust Super Cup match at the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby this afternoon.

A huge crowd of nearly 13 000 cheered on as  the home side scored  first  through Adex Wera. Play maker, Ase Boas missed the conversion and the Hunters took the early  led 4 - 0.

The Hunters scored again after  Boas threw a dummy and stepped in carrying several defenders to the try line to score. He converted his own try to take the Hunters to 10 - 0 lead.

The Bears regrouped and responded with a try through half-back Jamal Fogarty.  Conversion was unsuccessful and the visitors trailed 10 - 4.

Half-back Boas  threw a short pass to fullback, Bland Abavu who scored Hunters third try of the afternoon.  Boas missed the uprights and the score was 14 - 4 with five minutes on the clock before half time.

The Bears replied with a try  right on half-time through Pat Vaivai that  reduced to margin to 14 - 10.

In the second half, the Hunters were first to score through Adex Wera who chased a grubber kick and planted the ball inch before the touch line for his second for the afternoon. Boas missed the conversion and the home side extended their lead to 18 - 10.

The Bears replied with a try after Waka Wahani crossed over on the wing. Fogarty missed the conversion and the visitors trailed  18-14. Inspired by the try , the Bears  mounted huge pressure on the Hunters defence with well executed attack  but Boas relieved his team as he intercepted a pass and ran 80 meters to score under the post for his second of the afternoon. He converted his own try to take the lead to 24 - 14.


The Hunters continued to attack the Bears line for  more points and they did through replacement hooker Gahuna Silas who dummied to score . Boas missed the conversion and the Hunters led 28 - 14.

The visitors used their big men to attack the Hunters defence. Prop Paterika Vaivai crashed over under the posts. The conversion was successful and the Bears trailed 28 - 20 with 10 minutes left on the clock.

The Hunters added extra two points after a  penalty was awarded to them on the 75 minute. In the final 5 minutes, the Bears threw everything in attack but the Hunters held on to win  30 - 20 at full time.  Forward Timothy Lomai  was named  Man of the match .