Unique PNG experience for Bears

The Burleigh Bears faced a devastating 56-12 loss to the PNG Hunters in Koropo on Saturday, unable to stop the Hunters who were seeking revenge from their round 9 loss to the Bears .

The Hunters scored 10 tries, giving them their biggest win in their first season in the Super Intrust Cup.

“They sort of ambushed us, so it wasn’t a good game, but it was a great experience,” iSelect Gold Coast Titan Brad Tighe said.

This was his, along with many of the other players’, first time travelling to the Kalabond Oval to compete against the Hunters. The Bears were welcomed by a small encouraging crowd of almost 3,000 who despite the score, motivated the Bears to keep trying.

“It was a bit of an eye opener and it put a lot into perspective,” Tighe said. “It makes you feel grateful for what you have here. I would do it again however, have another look on what’s over there in the future.”

With slippery, wet conditions from constant downpour from the night before to hours prior to kick off, saw the game played in tough conditions with the water ankle deep in parts of the field. The Bears tried fighting back in the second half with two tries, one by Tighe and the other from Jamie Andersen. 

“We were playing with water ankle deep, but we wanted to put a little pride back into the jerseys,” Tighe said.

The Bears are virtually out of finals contention now while the Hunters went two points ahead on the ladder and still have hope of making the final five. With only five rounds remaining and the Bears, who have a bye this weekend, have four matches remaining but are now seven points out of the top five.

 “It’s going to be a tough run, but we’ll take it week by week. We’ll freshen up with this week’s bye and then start again new with Redcliffe,” said Tighe.

PNG HUNTERS 56 (Garry Lo 2, Adam Korave 2, Willie Minoga 2, Israel Eliab, Thompson Teteh, Wartovo Puara, David Loko tries; Israel Eliab 8 goals) def BURLEIGH BEARS 12 (Brad Tighe, Jamie Anderson tries; Khan Ahwang 2 goals) at Kalabond Oval, Kokopo.

POINTS TABLE AFTER ROUND 21

NEXT WEEK’S GAMES (Bye: Burleigh Bears)