Hunters dominate

 By PETER SEVARA Jr in Kokopo

THE Papua New Guinea Hunters put on their best performance of the season blowing the Burleigh Bears off the park 56-12 on Saturday.

The win was built on a committed defensive effort, which saw the hosts take an almost unassailable 34-0 lead by halftime in the Queensland Cup fixture.

Hunters coach Michael Marum described the 10 tries to two romp as one of their best games.

With incisive running and impressive ball control in wet conditions, capped off with solid tackling and an effective kicking game, the SP Brewery-sponsored side was a far cry from last week’s last gasp 25-24 victory over wooden-spooners, the Sunshine Coast Falcons.

The instigators of the overhaul were none other than the halves combination of Roger Laka and man-of-the-match five-eighth, Dion Aiye, while captain Israel Eliab had a good day with the boot, slotting eight from 10 conversions.

Marum said the side had put down the Bears match as the season-maker with the loser of the Round 21 match more than likely out of contention for a top five finals position.

The side had ignored all the distractions in the media about their season so far and treated the match as a win-at-all costs task.

“This game was our sole focus this week,” Marum said. 

“Our defence and attack was very impressive in the first half but we let our guard down in the second half, but it was still good. 

“A win is a win and I can’t ask for more than that. 

“We won it as a group, this is one of the best games we’ve ever played,” Marum said.

The Hunters piled on seven unanswered tries in the first half.

The Bears managed two tries in the second half in response to the Hunters four tries.

Try-scoring machine Garry Lo, Adam Korave and Willie Minoga each baged a brace of tries.

David Loko opened scoring for the day, stepping between Bears defenders to open the Hunters account. 

Eliab failed to convert but atoned soon enough when Hunters lock Adam Korave, sauntered in untouched and score for Marum’s side to take an early 10-0 lead after six minutes.

The Hunters set up shop in the Bears territory in the first half and there was nothing the Bears could do to remove a revitalised Hunters outfit.

“The halves combination of Laka and Aiye are working very well

“They are good boys and our forwards were really on the go,” Marum said, in describing how his side did not take their foot off the accelerator.

Some desperate Bears defence saw Wartovo Puara hack and chase in-goal, which saw the hooker regather and score for a 22-0 lead after Eliab’s conversion.

A sweeping backline move in the 29th minute saw Korave claim his second four-pointer.

Lo was rewarded for some enterprising play in the 37th minute, forcing his way over the line off an Adex Wera offload to have the home side in a commanding position at 34-0.

The Hunters were the first to score in the second half as 165-centimetre wrecking ball George Benson laid on a try for raging bull Willie Minoga with a barging run into the Bears’ 20.

At 40-0 the Hunters kept up the intensity with Minoga bustling his way over for his second. 

The Bears regrouped and showed some fight through winger Jamie Anderson and centre Brad Tighe, scoring back-to-back tries to stem the Hunters tide somewhat.

But the Hunters made sure they let the visitors know who was boss with tries to Lo and Eliab in the final quarter to inflict Burleigh’s worst defeat of the season.

Lo maintained his spot as the competition’s top try-scorer, lifting his tally to 21 tries in as many rounds. 

Match summary: Tries: Hunters 56 (Garry Lo 2, Adam Korave 2, Willie Minoga 2, Israel Eliab, Thompson Teteh, Wartovo Puara, David Loko tries; Israel Eliab 8 con) Burleigh bears 12 (Brad Tighe, Jamie Anderson tries; Khan Ahwang 2 con). Half time: 34-0