Hunters and Tigers kick off Country Week with a bang

There was a huge crowd lined up to get in to watch the game at Aipus Oval and they were taken on a ride, with the lead changing a number of times in the game.

In a high-scoring match, the Hunters scored seven tries - but struggled to convert to them, with Ase Boas kicking four conversions from seven attempts and a penalty goal; while for Easts, Dray Ngatuere-Wroe kicked six from six and a penalty goal.

The opening try of the match was scored in the first minute with Woods Kawage over to set the try-scoring tone for the rest of the match.

His effort was almost immediately met by Easts winger Jarrod McInally just seven minutes later. Sam Lavea followed up with another for the Tigers to put them in the lead, before Justin Yoka and Roy Ellison, who was on debut, pushed the Hunters back in front.

The half ended with two quick-fire tries to the Tigers and all of a sudden, with was 24-16 at halftime, thanks also to Ngatuere-Wroe's boot.

The Tigers scored both the first and the last try of the second half, but a series of three four-pointers to the Hunters between the 60th and 66th minutes of the game more than kept them in the game.

Next weekend, both sides will have some time off, due to the Intrust Super Cup split round.

The Tigers will play the first game of Round 19 Week 2 against Wynnum Manly.

The Hunters will also play on Saturday, August 3, and will head to Townsville.