The SP PNG Hunters remain unbeaten at home after comfortably beating East Tigers 38-8 in their Round 20 match at the National Football Stadium.
The first-half was one-way traffic with the Tigers guilty of handling errors. The Hunters capitalised on an early opportunity when Hunters winger Butler Morris grabbed a lost ball and sprinted 40m to set up a flying Justin Olam to score under the uprights. Fill-in goalkicker Ase Boas converted and it was 6-0 after 10 minutes.
Minutes later Hunters centre Thompson Teteh scores his first try after a Tigers player failed to complete the tackle which allowed the big back to get up and sprint 30m to score and Ase Boas converted. Hunters crossed again with Teteh grabbing his second try, thanks to his flashy footwork which opened the defence as he sprinted down to score. Boas converted.
Hunters forward pack led by Essau Siune, Brandy Peter, Timothy Lomai and Adam Korave set the platform for the backline to fire, however this time it was Peter who sidestepped past a would-be tackler, before passing to an unmarked Warren Glare to score. Ase Boas converted.
With just less than 5 minutes remaining Hunters crossed again when interchange hooker Sailas Gahuna barged over the tryline after an error from the Tigers gave them possession. Ase Boas converted. Hunters led the visitors 30-0 into the half-time break.
Second-half
The home side were first to score again in the second-half through stand-in fullback Bland Abavu who threw a dummy and dived over the tryline after a line dropout gave them possession. The Ase Boas conversation attempt was unsuccessful.
Finally the Tigers were able to put some points on the board when big winger Dane Chang bumped his way past the defenders to score after a penalty from the Hunters which gave the visitors enough possession. Adam Crear was not able to convert the try.
Tigers scored again through centre Jeremy Hawkins who scored in the corner from the scrum. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful.
The Hunters were not done yet with Justin Olam scoring his second try from a well-executed set play that sent the whole stadium into eruption. The conversation was missed.
> Final teams and scorers at QRL Live
PNG HUNTERS 38 (Justin Olam 2, Thompson Teteh 2, Warren Glare, Gahuna Silas, Bland Abavu tries; Ase Boas 5 goals) def EASTS TIGERS 8 (Dane Chang, Jeremy Hawkins tries) at National Football Stadium, Port Moresby.
