Hunters clipped

THE SP PNG Hunters lost 24-10 to the Sunshine Coast Falcons in a lackluster showing yesterday.
Michael Marum’s men were out-played in a torrid opening half of their round 3 Q-Cup fixture dubbed the grand final replay at the Sunshine Coast Stadium and trailed 18-0 at the break.
The loss, their second on the road in as many weeks, sees the Hunters fall to 11th place on the table but things should get easier as they host the Tweed Heads Seagulls in Port Moresby next Sunday.
Despite the Hunters coming back with two tries in an improved second 40 minutes, the Falcons actually were the first to score after the interval with back-rower-cum-centre Jye Ballinger crossing in the 42nd minute to give the home side an almost unassailable 24-0 lead.
The Falcons’ man-of-the-moment was fullback Matthew Soper-Lawler who scored a try and kicked for goals to account for half his side’s points.
For the Hunters, Nixon Put (57th minute) and Wartovo Puara Jr (61st minute) crossed in a positive 10-minute period of play.
Sunshine Coast Falcons 24 (Ryley Jacks, Jack Ainsworth, Matthew Soper-Lawler, Jye Ballinger tries; Soper-Lawler 4 con) PNG Hunters 10 (Nixon Put, Wartovo Puara Jr tries; Ase Boas con).
Round 3 Results: Sat, March 24 – Tweed Head Seagulls 12 Burleigh Bears 32, Easts Tigers 26 Ipswich Jets 32, Mackay Cutters 18 Central Queensland Capras 16, Townsville Blackhawks 6 Northern Pride 26; Sun, March 25 – Sunshine Coast Falcons 24 PNG Hunters 10, Souths Logan Magpies 24 Norths Devils 26, Wynnum Manly Seagulls 20 Redcliffe Dolphins 36.