Dolphins smash Hunters at NFS

By PARKER TAMBUA
VETERAN Adex Wera’s last home game didn’t turn out the way the SP Hunters expected after slumping to a 0-46 loss to the Redcliffe Dolphins in Port Moresby on Sunday.
The seventh-placed Dolphins scored eight unanswered tries with Harrison Smith bagging a hat-trick and lock Nick Brown and winger William Partrigde picking up doubles. Coming off big wins against the East Tigers and Capras, the Dolphins maintained their form with Tyson Gamble and Sheldon Pitama directing play from the get-go. The physicality of forwards Nathan Watts, Jordan Grant and Tom Geraghty was too tough for the Hunters to contain.
Dolphins winger and Papua New Guinea native Jedidiah Simbiken also had a hand in his side’s win with his third try of the season in only his 10th Intrust Super Cup game.
Both sides had fair possession in the first half with the Hunters throwing everything at the Dolphins defence but couldn’t cross over the line and trailed 0-18 at half-time. The second half didn’t get any better for the Hunters as their handling errors put the Dolphins on the front foot.
The win by the Dolphins also saw them retain the annual Stan Joyce Cup. It was also the final home game for the Hunters and Wera, who will retire at the end of this season.
Result: Dolphins 46 (H. Smith 3, N. Brown 2, W. Patridge 2, J. Simbiken tries, T. Gamble 7/8 Cons) Hunters 0.