Hunters fall prey

By ISAAC LIRI 
THE Papua New Guinea Hunters suffered their first loss of the 2017 season, going down 32-18 to the Norths Devils at the National Football Stadium yesterday.
After surging out to a 26-6 halftime lead, the visitors kept ahead of the Hunters off the boot of halfback Todd Murphy, who kicked a perfect eight from eight, including four first-half conversions and four second-half penalties.
Lanky winger Bland Abavu scored a double — one on either side of the break — and captain Ase Boas picked up a four-pointer, his third for the season, as the home side tried to get back into the contest in the second 40, but to no avail.
Hunters coach Michael Marum admitted in the post-match press conference that a poor start to the game was the key factor in their 14-point loss.
“I think we just didn’t get off to a good start and this is a good lesson for us, looking forward to the rest of the season,” Marum said.
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“Discipline was also another factor. We gave away too many penalties.”
Marum referred to some decisions made by referee Liam Kennedy as dubious however he did not blame them for the loss.
The visitors went on an early rampage scoring back-to back-converted tries in the space of six minutes.
Devils second-rower Matiu Love-Henry opened the scoring in the third minute and fullback Javarn White crossed in the sixth.
Making hard runs and gaining handy yardage early in the game, the visitors held good field position and a penalty to Murphy saw the lead extended to 14-0.
With the wind in their sails, the Devils added another try through lock Dalton Philips extending the lead 20-0.
The home side finally broke the egg in the 26th minute as skipper Boas crabbed across field before finding Abavu for the home side.
As the match heated up, Hunters vice-captain Wellington Albert put a shot on Devils winger Michael Lucas and was put on report for a shoulder charge.
But Albert wasn’t the only Hunter caught out for dangerous play with forwards Moses Meninga and Silas Gahuna also cited.
Devils centre Delouise Hoeter scored on the stroke of halftime giving the visitors a 26-6 lead at the break.
It was clear in the second half that Norths were looking to grind down the Hunters and stay ahead by any means with Murphy potting two penalties to get his side out to an almost unassailable 30-6 lead.
The Hunters stayed within a long shot with Abavu’s second touchdown with 25 minutes left on the clock for 30-12 score line.
But the Devils’ patient pressure coupled with the Hunters risky catch-up football saw the visitors nudge ahead through Murphy as the No.7 slotted another penalty.
Boas went over in the 65th minute and a comeback looked to be on the cards but the Devils were not about to let their first away win over the Hunters slip through their fingers.
The loss was only the Hunters second in 14 matches at the venue.
PNG Hunters 18 (Bland Abavu 2, Ase Boas tries; A Boas 3 on) Norths Devils 32 (Matiu Love-Henry, Javarn White, Dalton Philips, Delouise Hoeter tries; Todd Murphy 4 con, 4 pen) at NFS. H/T: 26-6 (Devils).
Round 4 Results: Sat, March 25 – Ipswich Jets 4 Sunshine Coast Falcons 34, Burleigh Bears 18 Souths Logan Magpies 19, Tweed Heads Seagulls 18 CQ Capras 30, Wynnum Manly Seagulls 18 Mackay Cutters 22, Redcliffe Dolphins 18 Townsville Blackhawks 6; Sun, March 26 – Easts Tigers 42 Northern Pride 12, PNG Hunters 18 Norths Devils 32.