Hunters cop heavy loss

DESPITE coming off a couple of home wins and feeling confident, the SP PNG Hunters were served a healthy dose of reality when the Townsville Blackhawks unloaded on the visitors with a 54-4 thrashing to kick off round 9 of Hostplus Cup on Friday night.
Papua New Guinea international and North Queensland Cowboys contracted player Sylvester Namo opened the scoring for the hosts at Jack Manski Oval and the Blackhawks did not let up running in nine more tries in a dominant display.
The Stanley Tepend-coached side had no answer for the onslaught and worryingly looked disinterested as the game got away from them.
The signs were ominous for the ninth-place Hunters as they trailed 0-22 at halftime.
The SP Brewery-sponsored side were desperate to score first and bring some hope back but fired-up Blackhawks picked up from where they left in the first-half as they piled on three unanswered tries.
Winger Solo Wane scored a consolation try in the 60th minute before Blackhawks scored three more tries to complete their 10-try haul in the game.
Winger Jodeci Baker-Tiraha starred for Blackhawks as he grabbed a hat-trick while Cowboys contracted lock forward Riley Price scored a double.
National Rugby League (NRL) experienced five-eighth Ben Hampton and half-back Thomas Duffy guided the Blackhawks attack which kept Hunters defence under pressure throughout the game.
Hunters had 40 per cent possession while the hosts had 60 percent. With kick defusals being the biggest problem for the Hunters backs, the pressure mounted on their defence which couldn’t contain a relentless Blackhawks attack during Friday night’s match.
The Townsville side made more passing and offloads using their tall players which created more holes in Hunters defence.
Hunters remain at 9th spot on the 15-team competition ladder after this loss. Hunters will next face Wynnum Manly Seagulls in Brisbane on Saturday for round 10.