PNG Hunters beat Townsville Blackhawks 12 - 8

The SP PNG Hunters held off the Townsville Blackhawks with 12 -8 win  in an entertaining match at the National Football Stadium this afternoon.  This is also three wins in a row for the defending championships.  The Hunters also retained the Kokoda Cup. 

The visitors were first to score through Ty Carcucci on the 15th minute. The conversion was unsuccessful and the Blackhawks took the early 4 - 0 lead.  

The homeside threw everything  at the visitors but could not find the line and were kept scoreless in the first half. 

 The second half began with The Hunters came firing  and found the try line in the 45th minute through Junior Rau who raced fourty-five meters to score under the posts.

Watson Boas added the extras and the homeside took over the leader  with 6 - 4 score. 

The  Hunters took the momentum and build pressure on the Blackhawks defence. Stanton Albert bulldozed over on the tryline and put the Hunters ahead with a try.  Boas sent the ball between the uprights and extended the lead to  12 - 4 with fifteen minutes remaining on the clock 

The visitors never gave up and mounted pressure for a comeback win. Their efforts were rewarded with a  try to Kalifa Faifai-Loa that  reduced the margin to 12-8 with unsuccessful conversion.  However, time was not on their side as the homeside defended the tryline well to win the match at 12 - 8 on fulltime.

The man of the match in the round 12 fixture was awarded to fullback, Adex Wera.