PNG Hunters beat Redcliffe Dolphins 22 - 18

The SP Papua New Guinea Hunters's  aggressive defence ensured they came away with a well-deserved 22 - 18 victory over the Redcliffe Dolphins at the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby this afternoon. The Hunters also walked away with the Stan Joyce Cup. 

The Hunters opened the game through fullback Stargroth Amean. Co-captain Noel Zeming sent the ball between the uprights to take the lead 6 - 0.  The game intensified with big hits but riddled with ball  handling errors from both sides. 

The Dolphins  constantly defused the   Hunters attack and matched the Hunters physically. They scored through Rulon Nutira and leveled the score 6 - 6 all into half time. 

In the second half, the home side started the game in style with half-back Ase Boas sending Adex Wera over the line. Zeming missed the uprights and the Hunters led 10 - 6.  In the next play, man -of-match player and co-captain Noel Zeming found a gap in the Dolphins defence line and raised several meters and scored under the uprights.  He converted his own try to extend the lead to 16 - 6. 

The visitors were not about to let the Hunters get ahead with prop Faingaa crossing to cut the lead back to four after a successful Luke Capewell conversion and trailed 16 - 12. 

 Spurred on by the home crowd, the Hunters muscled up in defence and in attack. Noel Zeming  chased down a kick by the Dolphins half-back by sending the ball into the air and he regathered the ball and raised 70 meters to score under the posts. He converted his own try and extended the lead to 22 - 12. 

With seven minutes on the clock, the visitors regrouped and  replied with a converted try to stay within reach with 22 - 18 score. 

The visitor  saw victory was on their end  and threw everything on the Hunters in the dyings minutes  but the home team was too strong in defusing the attack and held on to win the game 22 - 18 at full time.