Hunters hold on against Capras

Author: Simon Rathbone QRL Correspondent
Timestamp: Sat 4 Sep 2021, 08:24 PM

PNG Hunters have come away from Browne Park with the two points following their nail-biting 22-20 victory over the Central Queensland Capras at Browne Park.

The home side fought hard to come back from a horror start which saw the Hunters score three tries in the opening 13 minutes, only to ultimately fall short, with Caleb Tull failing to convert his own try after the full-time siren to draw the game.

Hunters bench forward Emmanuel Waine was at his damaging best, trampling over the top of defenders and racing away on numerous occasions, much to the delight of the Hunters fanbase in attendance.

It took just two minutes for the Hunters to pile on their first points of the afternoon, with Junior Rau scoring in the corner courtesy of some lovely hands from his fullback Edwine Ipape.

The away side then made it two tries in quick succession when Ipape proved too much of a handful close to the line, slicing through in the 7th minute.

Things went from bad to worse for the Capras when Blake Moore’s attempt to bat the ball back into the field of play to stop an Ase Boas 40/20 attempt, found it’s way into the path of a flying Solo Wane, who toed the ball ahead and grounded it before the dead ball line.

The momentum began to swing in the home sides favour when Moore made up for his earlier mistakes to send Jedidah Simbiken over in the corner in the 18th minute.

Junior Rau was then placed on report and sent to the sin-bin in the 20th minute following his off the ball dangerous throw on Simbiken.

Simbiken’s second try for the afternoon got the Capras within two points but an Emmanuel Waine offload that led to Solo Wane’s second try moments before the break, gave the Hunters an 18-12 lead at half-time.

Round 16 - Round 16 - Saturday 4 Sep

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Capras

Hunters

Venue: Browne Park, Rockhampton

Team Stats Play by Play

After an evenly contested start to the second half which saw the Hunters defence repel plenty of Capras attacking raids, the Hunters finally scored the first points of the second stanza through Judah Rimbu in the 63rd minute.

An intercept from Caleb Tull in the dying stages saw the Capras race away downfield, with two-time try scorer Solo Wane sent to the sin-bin for 10 minute for his deliberate slowing down of the ruck.

Lachlan Hubner scored from the ensuing set of six to set up the grandstand finish, with the Capras now only trailing by a converted try.

The Capras wasted little time in immediately shifting back out to their left edge, with Nixon Putt breaking away and linking up with halfback Jack Madden who was tackled 20 metres short of the try line.

Benji Knott was penalised for slowing down the play ball and subsequently sent to the sin-bin, leaving the Hunters down to 11-men to defend the final set.

On the final play of the game, Raeden Robinson put up a cross field kick which caught the Hunters out of position, which Tull slammed down, only to unsuccessfully convert his own try after the siren.

Capras head coach Guy Williams said despite both sides guilty of handling errors, he was proud of their ability to give themselves a chance in the final moments.

“We were down 10 points at the end there and still gave ourselves a shot of drawing the game so that was the pleasing part of it,” Williams said.

“The Hunters came out firing and they scored some early tries but then we managed to get some more possession and score some tries of our own in the first half.”

Williams said his side’s inability to capitalise on some great attacking opportunities let them down but credited the gritty Hunters defence.

“Fair credit to the Hunters... they repelled everything we threw at them, even in those last few minutes when they were down to 11- they scrambled really hard,” Williams said.

The Capras will look to bounce back in Round 17 when they face the Sunshine Coast Falcons at Sunshine Coast Stadium next Sunday.

Round 17 - Round 17 - Sunday 12 Sep

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