PNG Hunters beat Tweed Head Seagulls 20 -18

The SP PNG Hunters  were made to battle hard to register  a 20 – 18 win over the Tweed Head Seagulls in  round 3 of the Intrust Super Cup  match at the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby tonight.   The game was played under lights in front of a good crowd.  

The Hunters were first to register  two points through Zemings  after  Tweed Heads conceded a penalty   10 meters  in front of  their try line and took the early lead 2 -0. The visitors replied with unconverted try to take over the lead 4 – 2.  The Hunters regrouped and replied with a try through halfback Watson Boas.  Zeming sent the ball between the uprights and took over the lead 8 – 4.  The Hunters extended their lead to 14 – 4 after forward Edward Goma crashed over the line after a good backline play. 

The Seagulls fought back with a converted try to reduce the margin  14 – 10.  It was anyone’s game and  intensified as the home crowd cheered on.   The Hunters led  14 – 10 at half time.

In the second half, the Tweed Head Seagulls with their experienced NRL players kept the Hunters defending their try line in the first quarter of second half.  As a result, a penalty was awarded to them just 10 meters away from the Hunters try line. The Seagulls resorted to shoot a penalty goal reducing the margin to 14 – 12. 

In the next play, the visitors found a gap in the Hunters defense line and scored a try to steal the lead  18 – 14 from the Hunters with 20 minutes remaining on the clock.  Facing defeat on their home turf, the Hunters muscled up in attack and defense. The home crowd cheered on for the Hunters as the clock winded down. 

In a clever play Ate Bino scored for the Hunters with 10 minutes remaining on the clock.  Zemming added the extras and took the lead 20 – 18.

The visitors strived every effort but the home team held on to win the game.

Fulltime score the SP Hunters 20 defeated Tweed Head Seagulls 18.