By GABRIEL KATUHO
THE SP PNG Hunters made a triumphant return in front of a massive home crowd, defeating the Tweed Head Seagulls in Round 21 of the Queensland Hostplus Cup at the Santos National Football Stadium.
This game was crucial for the Hunters, who gave their all to secure a promising result. They got off to a strong start with Judah Rimbu and Wallentine Richard scoring two tries, putting the Hunters ahead with 12 points. The Seagulls responded with 10 points from Tony Francis and Carter Gordon as they battled in the humid conditions.
With 18 minutes left before half-time, Tweed Seagulls’ fullback and captain Lindon McGrady scored, narrowing the gap. However, just seven minutes later, Brandon Nima broke away from the 30-meter line, sprinting 70 meters to score a try, reigniting hope for the Hunters and sending the crowd into a frenzy.
In the final minute of the first half, Hunters’ halfback Sanny Wabo broke through the Seagulls’ defense with a dazzling run to score another try. Five-eighth Jamie Mavoko converted, giving the Hunters a 22-18 lead at halftime.
Both teams returned with a spectacular display of footy, keeping the crowd on the edge of their seats. The Hunters wasted no time, with Joshua Lau slipping through the Seagulls’ defense for a try just six minutes into the second half. This was set up by hooker Judah Rimbu and Finley Glare, who accelerated the play to gain crucial meters in Seagulls’ territory. Mavoko added to the excitement by converting the try, extending the lead to 28-18.
Another impressive run by Sanny Wabo from the 40-meter line to the try line brought the crowd to their feet again, celebrating yet another try. Mavoko’s conversion brought the score to 34-18.
The Seagulls quickly responded, scoring a try and successfully converting it, bringing the score to 24-34. They followed up with another try in the 14th minute, narrowing the gap further to 30-34 after a successful conversion.
The crowd fell into a brief silence, uncertainty etched on their faces. But the Hunters bounced back with just 10 minutes remaining, as Branden Nima scored another try off a beautiful pass from Joshua Lau, sealing a thrilling victory for the home side.
Mavoko again converted, pushing the lead to 40-30. A two-point penalty kick from the 20-meter line further extended the lead to 42-30.
The Hunters not only impressed the home crowd but also proved to Coach Aiton that they had absorbed the training and executed the game plan flawlessly.
