The SP Papua New Guinea Hunters have defeated competition leaders Townsville Blackhawks 11 – 10 in a tightly contested game at the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby this afternoon. Hunters playmaker Ase Boas kicked the winning field goal right on full time. In the first quarter of the game, both teams exchange huge hits in a physical game. The Hunters opened the score board through the enforcer, Adam Korave. Captain Zeming sent the ball between the uprights to put the home side in front with 6 – 0. The visitors muscled up and sent former Kumul Rhys Martin to score next to the uprights. Mitchel converted the try and leveled the score 6 – 6 all. Former Hunter, Willie Minoga bulldozed through the Hunters defence line to score for the visitors again . The conversion was successful and the visitors led 10 – 6 at half time. In the second half, the game intensified with big hits but riddled with dropped balls as both teams showed strength in defence and attack. The Hunters kept the visitors scoreless in the second half. On the 65th minute, Hunters winger Justin Olam crashed over the corner that sent the 10 000 plus crowd into rapture. Zeming strayed the ball away and the score was leveled 10 - 10 all. In the final 10 minutes, the visitors muscled up and threw everything and attacked the Hunters line but the Hunters held on with solid defence. An attempted field goal by Blackhawks hooker did not find the uprights and the Hunters got possession of the ball. In the next play, the Hunters forwards ran hard and strong and took the ball to the visitors territory. Play maker, Ase Boas sent the ball between the posts for a field goal that showed first defeat for the Townsville Blackhawks. The Hunters won 11 – 10. Read more: http://www.pngfacts.com/5/post/2016/04/hunters-escape-with-11-10-win-over-townsville-blackhawks.html#ixzz45TWQJxB7 THE Papua New Guinea Hunters take on a Townsville Blackhawks side featuring National Rugby League talent on Sunday in Port Moresby. The match, which kicks off at 3pm at the National Football Stadium, was rescheduled from its original 7.30pm, Saturday time slot to ensure more fans turned up to the 15,000 capacity venue. The Blackhawks made an impact in their debut last year by reaching the Intrust Super Cup grand final and, based on their form in their inaugural season, were expected to lift the trophy but were beaten by an in-form Ipswich Jets. The Blackhawks arsenal features an array of veteran NRL players as well as those who have tasted football in the arguably the world’s best competition. Captain Glenn Hall has 220 NRL games under his belt, having played for the Canterbury Bulldogs, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Manly Sea Eagles, Sydney Roosters — and of course — the North Queensland Cowboys. Joining Glenn in the front row as hooker is Anthony Mitchell, who has played 39 games in the NRL for three teams — the Parramatta Eels, Sydney Roosters and the North Queensland Cowboys. Mitchell has represented the Indigenous All Stars on two occasions. Other NRL representatives in the Blackhawks line-up include Jahrome Hughes (Gold Coast Titans), Jonathon Reuben (Sydney Roosters), DelouiseHoeter (Wests Tigers) and Lorenzo Ma’afu (Canterbury Bulldogs). Current North Queensland Cowboys squad members Kyle Laybutt and Jahrome Hughes add to the experience in the side while Kumul back-rower Rhyse Martin returns to PNG for the Blackhawks. Former Hunters impact forward Willie Minoga returns to Port Moresby to play against his former teammates for the first time since signing on with the Blackhawks at the end of last season. There is a chance that ex-Kumul captain, Neville Costigan, might make the trip, giving the Blackhawks an intimidating forward pack. With both the Blackhawks and the SP Hunters being the new Q-Cup teams on the block, both clubs would like nothing better to having bragging rights over who is the better team. The Blackhawks arrive in Port Moresby on Saturday. The National / PNG Hunters Supporters Club PNG SP Hunters coach Michael Marum on arrival at the Jackson International Airport yesterday was pleased with the team’s outstanding performance after beating the Mackay Cutters on Saturday. "We are happy with our win and the team spirit is high at the moment," said Marum. He said there is still a lot of room for improvement in defence and indicated that their new halves combination of Watson Boas and Wartovo Puara Jr guided their attack well to win the game. When asked about maintaining the current line-up for this weekend’s game, Marum said it will all be determined by how well the players recover from minor injuries, suspension and their efforts during training. Boas said there was a bit of pressure at the start but as soon they completed their sets well, his combination with Puara Jr grew with confidence. Warren Glare was also pleased to take up the role in the dummy half, a position that he isn’t new to, despite starting this year in the second-row. "I was a bit nervous at first but as soon as the game’s momentum kicked in, everything just fell in line, especially in distributing the ball to the forwards and also the backs," added Glare. Puara Jr said their win was a result of a good team effort and having to improve in their offence. The Hunters will now play the Townsville Blackhawks with former Hunter Willie Minoga expected to be given a rousing welcome at the National Football Stadium this Sunday. Post Courier The Papua New Guinea SP Hunters have hit-back with a gutsy 34-20 win over the Mackay Cutters. The Cutters were first to score five minutes into the game through Johnny Faletogao'I but with unsuccessful conversion, they took the early lead 4 - 0. The Hunters replied with a try through Watson Boas after a break by fullback Stargrot Amean who flipped the ball to Boas who scored under the uprights. Zeming added the extras and the Hunters took over the lead 6 - 4. The home side replied with back-to-back tries to extend the lead to 16 - 6. The Hunters muscled up and scored through Enoch Maki who burst through the Cutters defence line to score under the uprights. Zeming added the extras to reduce the margin to 16 - 12 at half time. In in the second half, the Hunters were first to score through stand-in halfback Puara that leveled the score at 16 - 16 all. The Hunters found the Cutters line again through Baikawa on debut to extend the lead to 22 - 16 with successful conversion from Zeming. Boas scored his second 60 minutes into the game with a runaway try, followed by a successful conversion to put the Hunters in a 12-point lead, 28-16. The home side muscled up and scored again through Brenden Treston taking their score up 28-20. The Cutters threw everything on the Hunters both in defence and attack but the Hunters held on. Wera finally scored for the visitors to sealed the game 34 - 20. The Hunters will return home to meet competition leaders Townsville Blackhawks at the National Football stadium at 3:00 pm on Sunday. ADEX Wera returns to fullback for the Papua New Guinea Hunters this weekend for the first time since 2014, when they play the Sunshine Coast Falcons in the Round 4 fixture on Sunday. With Stargroth Amean nursing a bruised jaw from a knock two weeks ago against Wynnum Manly, which he aggravated against Tweed Heads last Saturday, coach Michael Marum has slotted in the dynamic Wera, who relinquished the No 1 jersey at the start of last season, to the custodial role. Amean has been named on an extended bench and is a chance of playing depending on how he fares during the week. The other big losses for the Hunters heading into the match at Sunshine Coast Stadium sees five-eighth and chief playmaker Ase Boas being replaced by utility Atte Bina. Boas limped off midway through the first half of the Round 3 clash with Tweed Heads at the NFS clutching his left hamstring and could be out for up to three weeks. Bina, who has become somewhat of a Mr Fix-It for Marum after three rounds, will partner Watson Boas in the halves. The other loss the Hunters will have to contend with is that of back-rower and co-captain Adam Korave, who was cited for dangerous contact on Tweed’s Shaun Carney. Hunters chief executive officer Bob Cutmore said although the Queensland Rugby League had yet to grade the offence, with Korave’s carry-over points from his last charge, the Koiari man was expected to “do some time”. Korave was inspirational in his return match last round and along with prop Henry Wan, was one of the Hunters’ chief metre-gainers. In other changes to the squad, lock Ishmael Balkawa has been rested with Brandy Peter coming into the 13, while prop Enock Maki returns on the bench for his first match since injuring a knee in the middle of last season. Debutant Gahuna Sailas is the 18th man but will likely get a chance to play given Amean’s condition. The Falcons, who feature several Melbourne Storm U20s and extended squad members, are primed for a big game against the Hunters after their 36-14 away win over the Burleigh Bears last weekend. The Hunters and Falcons clash will play for the Pacific Allies Cup, with the Falcons being the current holders after beating the Hunters 36-10 in Round 5 on the Sunshine Coast last year. Hunters Team : 1 Adex Wera, 2 Bland Abavu, 3 Noel Zeming (C), 4 Thompson Teteh, 5 Justin Olam, 6 Atte Bina, 7 Watson Boas, 8 Henry Wan, 9 Wartovo Puara Jr, 10 Esau Siune, 11 Nickson Borana, 12 Warren Glare, 13 Brandy Peter, Reserves 14 Stargroth Amean, 15 Tuvi Lepan, 16 Enock Maki, 17 Edward Goma, 18 Gahuna Sailas (one to be omitted). Coach: Michael Marum |
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