The PNG Hunters have posted another big score to maintain their standing at the top of the Intrust Super Cup ladder.
This week, the result was 40-18 over the Norths Devils at Bishop Park – however, despite the dominant scoreline, the game was in the balance for much of the game.
The Devils in fact started the scoring for the day when centre Luke Pollack crossed the line in only the fifth minute, before a hard-running Stargroth Amean was able to respond for the visitors only moments later.
A great run from David Loko help kick-start the next scoring play for his team, and while he was brought down as he attempted to charge towards to the goal-line, a ball out wide found Willie Minoga in space to the right of the field and he made no mistake and ran over to score.
But again in a seesawing half Norths had an answer – with noted tryscorer Javarn White adding to his tally after being on the back of some good play and slick hand that sucked the defenders in to leave him space.
This conversion attempt from Chris Sandow was successful to leave the home side trailing 12-10, but a penalty goal four minutes from halftime ensure both teams went to the sheds with scores level.
The Hunters then burst out of the blocks in the second half with a Minoga run setting up Adex Wera to burst down the short-side to go in to score.
Their next try came only minutes later following an error from the Devils that gifted the Hunters field position and Bland Abavu was somehow able to stay in-goal to ground the ball, despite the best efforts of the covering Devils defenders.
A strong run from Matiu Love-Henry got the home side back into the match where he helped set up White to cross for his second try of the afternoon and the scores were close with Norths trailing 22-18.
But from there, the day belonged to the Hunters who ran in three more tries, the first to Stanton Albert who showed his strength to shrug off defenders on his charge to the line.
The next was set up by some clever play from hooker Wartovo Puara, who timed his pass perfectly to Nixon Putt to draw in the defence.
The last try came via an ever-improving Moses Meninga who benefited from a great offload from David Loko who put him into space to score their seventh try of the day.
Next weekend, the Hunters are at home to a high-flying Souths Logan outfit, while the Devils travel to Ipswich to take on the Jets.
See the full scoring details and final team line-ups for this game via QRL Live
PNG HUNTERS 40 (Stargroth Amean, Willie Minoga, Adex Wera, Bland Abavu, Stanton Albert, Nixon Putt, Moses Meninga tries; Ase Boas 6 goals) def NORTHS DEVILS 18 (Javarn White 2, Luke Pollock tries; Chris Sandow 3 goals) at Bishop Park.
