Hunters see off Tigers

By MELTON PAIS
ANOTHER masterclass by captain Ase Boas pushed the SP Papua New Guinea Hunters to a 30-20 win over the visiting Easts Tigers yesterday.
The Intrust Super Cup round 2 fixture was played in overcast but humid conditions at the almost-vacant National Football Stadium in Port Moresby as the expected big turnout for the side’s first home-game of the season struggled to attract even a quarter of the 15,000 capacity.
Boas set up three of the Hunters five tries and kicked five goals with a second half penalty miss the only blemish on his record.
The halfback’s combination with five-eighth Israel Eliab, pictured, improved from their round 1 effort with the pair looking after their sides of the paddock well and providing the playmaking leadership to see the home side take an 18-0 lead at halftime.
But it was not all Boas and Eliab as vice-captain Wellington Albert, in his debut for the Hunters, contributed with several strong surges.
The Hunters forwards stood up to their opposition pack with back-rower David Loko, lock Stanton Albert, hooker Gahuna Silas and book ends Henry Wan and Esau Siune playing strongly while the bench in Moses Meninga, Enoch Maki and Lawrence Tu’u backed up admirably.
The win was the Hunters’ second on the trot sees them in fourth spot on the ISC standings behind the Redcliffe Dolphins, Wynnum Manly Seagulls and Townsville Blackhawks.
Hunters coach Michael Marum said the win was built on a platform created in the first half but he was disappointed with their second half which saw the Tigers out-score the home side 20-12.
Marum said they would need to continue working on their defence and mental preparation heading into their next fixture, their round 3 match against the Souths Logan Magpies at Davies Park, Brisbane, next Sunday.
The home win also erased memories of their 18-12 finals capitulation to the Sunshine Coast Falcons last September which ended a 27-game winning streak at home and snuffed out the Hunters finals hopes.
East Tigers Coach Scott Sipple accepted the loss but said his side’s high error count and tactics played into the host’s hands.
Lock Stanton Albert crossed in the fourth minute and with Boas’ successful conversion the Hunters held a 6-0 for most of the half until Wan, who was later named man-of-the-match, scored in the 22nd minute and along with Boas’ conversion doubled the lead.
The Tigers were guilty of not gaining ascendency up the middle third and instead tried to take cheap points by spreading the ball wide early in sets. That tactic brought them no luck with the Hunters containing the best that captain Jake Foster’s troops could muster.
Loko benefited off an interchange of passes in the 30th minute to crash over and the Tigers had a steep hill to climb at 18-0 when the halftime siren blarred across the partially filled stadium.
The Tigers scored first 10 minutes into the second stanza through reserve forward Charlie Galo off a kick deflection and centre Shane Neumann caught the right edge defence napping in the 66th minute to reduce the deficit to 18-10.
But the Hunters re-grouped and tries to centre Adex Wera (70th min) and Eliab (77th min) ensured the Hunters would bank their second win of the season.
Tigers centre Conor Carey added a four-pointer after Wera’s effort and was last to score (79th min) as the home side took their foot off the paddle and coasted in.
PNG Hunters 30 (Stanton Albert, Henry Wan, David Loko, Adex Wera, Israel Eliab tries;  Ase Boas 5 con) Easts Tigers 20 (Charlie Galo, Shane Neumann, Conor Carey 2 tries; Billy Walters 2 con).
Results: Round 2 – Sat, March 11: Burleigh Bears 14 Norths Devils 26, Sunshine Coast Falcons 12 Souths Logan Magpies 22, CQ Capras 20 Redcliffe Dolphins 41, Mackay Cutters 38 Tweed Heads Seagulls 6, Wynnum Manly Seagulls 20 Northern Pride 18; Sun, March 12: Ipswich Jets 26 Townsville Blackhawks 39, PNG Hunters 30 Easts Tigers 20.