Devils beat Hunters at home in round 16 of ISC competition

THE SP PNG Hunters showed glimpses of promise in their 30-18 loss to the Norths Devils in their Round 16 Intrust Super Cup fixture at the National Football Stadium yesterday.
The Hunters led 12-0 at halftime thanks to tries to Junior Rau and Nick Hasu but could not step up in the second half as the visitors piled on six tries.
The Hunters got off to a strong start matching the Devils pack in the middle third with five-eighth Ase Boas dictating play.
Boas had a hand in the first try with a short kick finding Nima who fed winger Rau who crossed in the 16th minute.
Halfback Hasu followed his own chip over the defence to regather for a solo four-pointer to get his side out to a 12-0 lead.
The Devils worked hard in the first 40 minutes but could not find a way over the line.
Former Hunter Nixon Putt forward was menacing on the left edge while his captain Jack Ahearn kept his players focused on their jobs despite not scoring any points.
The Devils came out in the second half a new side scoring four unanswered tries through Riley Leota, Putt, Ahearn and Jamayne Taunao-Brown to blow the Hunters off the park before Nima’s try in the 65th minute.
Taunao-Brown and Ahearn capped off a dominant second stanza scoring their second tries to close out the game.
Results: Rd 16 – Sat, July 6: Mackay Cutters 6 Townsville Blackhawks 22, CQ Capras 16 Easts Tigers 42, Northern Pride 8 Sunshine Coast Falcons 52; Sun, July 7: Ipswich Jets 22 Redcliffe Dolphins 24, Wynnum Manly Seagulls 20 Tweed Heads Seagulls 16, Burleigh Bears 30 Souths Logan Magpies 18, PNG Hunters 18 Norths Devils 30.