The PNG Hunters are enjoying that winning feeling again after defeating the Redcliffe Dolphins 12-10 in an arm wrestle at the National Football Stadium on Easter Sunday.
While it was a flat performance overall from the side, the bright spark was two tries from Adex Wera, the second which claimed them the match.
Hunters coach Michael Marum had shifted Adex Wera into the centres for this match to mark former team-mate and fellow native Eastern Highlander Thompson Teteh who has been in good form for the Dolphins of late.
After a tight opening which saw some heavy defence by both sides, the visitors where first to cross the line, thanks to big centre Moses Pangai in the 15-minute mark.
Joshua Beehag converted the try to give them a 6-0 lead, but it did not take the home side long to hit back.
Wera scored his first try of the game after an error from the Dolphins gave his side possession and he produced a zig-zagging run to the line before diving over. Ase Boas converted the try and the scores were level 6-6.
After that, the game returned to the arm wrestle, with the pressure in defence causing errors.
The Dolphins could not keep a hold of the ball, while the Hunters struggled to execute their game plan.
With no further scoring made possible in the first half, the two sides went into the halftime break with scores locked.
Second half kicked off in a similar fashion, but the Dolphins were again guilty of poor handling and their forwards where not at the their best on the day.
The Dolphins have set themselves a high standard, but they were not able to execute as their coach would have expected and gave the home side plenty of possession – the Hunters too were struggling to make the most of their opportunities.
A penalty goal from Hunters captain Boas gave his side the lead early in the second half.
But the Dolphins put themselves in front again with 26 minutes remaining in the game when Dolphins five-eighth Tyson Gamble showed some great footwork to step past defenders to give his team a 10-8.
However, in the 71st minute, another Dolphins error turned over possession and Wera tucked the ball under his arm before darting through defenders, including his former team-mate, to score the winning try, much to the delight of the crowd.
See the full scoring details and final team line-ups for this game via QRL Live
PNG HUNTERS 12 (Adex Wera 2 tries; Ase Boas 2 goals) def REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS 10 (Moses Pangai, Tyson Gamble tries; Joshua Beehag goal) at National Football Stadium, Port Moresby.
