Bears crush Hunters

By ROBINSON LEKA
BURLEIGH restricted the SP Hunters to a lone Garry Lo try in the Bears’ 24-6 victory over the hosts at the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby yesterday.
The third-placed Bears, led by Papua New Guinea Kumuls Luke Paige, proved too strong for the Hunters with halves Jamal Fogarty and Josh Rogers steering a sizeable Burleigh forward pack in wet conditions.
An early penalty conceded by the Hunters saw the Bears open the scoring with two points. Fogarty then scored the opening try off the back of a suspected knock-on in the Queensland Intrust Super Cup round-20 encounter.
The Bears crossed over again through centre Josh Berkers two minutes before halftime to go into the break with a 12-0 lead.
Veteran returnees David Loko, Gary Lo and Willie Minoga were in for rude welcome with playmakers Nick Hasu and Ase Boas finding little chance to complete their set plays inside the Bears half.
A collective effort saw the fighting spirit brought back into the Hunters with Boas, Hasu and livewire rake Woods Kawage dominating the ruck for a surge in runs from veterans Loko, Stanton Albert and Minoga to set the stage for a try to Garry Lo out wide.
Paige, centre Sami Saulima and lock Sam Coster provided the go-forward for the Bears which led to the visitors gaining the upper hand over the Hunters.
Missed opportunities from the Hunters saw the Bears swing the match back in their favour with winger Troy Leo bagging a double and Fogarty claiming another two-pointer to seal the match.
Bears 24 (Jamal Fogarty 17, Josh Berkers, Troy Leo 2 tries; Fogarty 2 cons; Fogarty 2 pens) Hunters 6 (Garry Lo try; Ase Boas con).
Results: Sat, Aug 10 – Dolphins 43 Tigers 0, Pride 14 Devils 62, Capras 6 Blackhawks 32; Sun, Aug 11 – Cutters 14 Falcons 28, Wynnum Manly 34 Magpies 18, Jets 18 Tweed Heads 22, Hunters 6 Bears 24.