round 8

Cutters Record Back To Back Win

Two weeks ago, Cutters thrashed JPG Waghi Tumbe 28-0 in Kimbe followed by Sunday's hard fought win over PRK Gulf Isou 10-4 in Port Moresby.

In only their fourth season since entering the Digicel Cup in 2019, the Cutters are slowly but surely finding their feet in the semi-professional competition.

In its second season 2020, the Kimbe team had an impressive run and got the Best Team of the Year award after just falling short of top six in 7th place.

Dabaris Tame Vipers

The Dabaris bravery in their defense had forced the Vipers into many errors. The Central team is not all about skill, speed and agility but with good attitude and having pride in the jersey.

After competition front-runners, Agmark Gurias overwhelmed them the week before. It was a big ask for the Steven Gunua-coached side to regroup quickly for the Round 8 clash against Port Moresby Vipers.

Vipers appeared to be struggling for some midway through the season had all their big guns on deck to intimidate the lighter Dabaris pack but to no avail.

Hunters Win Big Over Blackhawks

The Hunters were slow to start in the slippery conditions but scrambled well to defend an early Blackhawks’ linebreak through the middle of the field. They couldn’t defend the consecutive knock on, penalty and six-again infringements that came next though, with Townsville capitalising on the field position to open the scoring with a well weighted grubber into the in goal for Jaelen Feeney.

Round 8 Match Preview: SP PNG Hunters v Townsville Blackhawks

The Hunters are coming off a loss but will take plenty of confidence from their performance in Round 7, which saw them push the defending premiers Norths Devils right to the siren.

Despite having almost half as much time in possession as the Devils and losing halfback Jamie Mavoko to a HIA just seven minutes into the game, the Hunters still managed to miss less tackles, run for more post contact metres and all but match Norths in average metres per set.

Dragons rally late to topple Tigers in Wollongong

In a low scoring contest until the 58th minute, the Tigers led 2-0 for most of the match before an individual effort from Hunt gave the Dragons the lead.

From there the Red V repelled four Wests Tigers sets on their own defensive line before the injection of Sullivan late proved a masterstroke with the 20-year-old darting over from close range. 

The Dragons lost star five-eighth Jack Bird pre-game due to a knee injury with Talatau Amone earning another starting opportunity and Sullivan coming onto the bench as a back-up utility.

Ruthless Storm pile on more Knights pain in Hunter

The Storm picked up where they left off in last week's 70-10 win over the Warriors to run in five unanswered tries in the first half for a 26-0 lead against a lacklustre Knights outfit who produced another poor showing on home turf. 

Storm stars Cameron Munster, Harry Grant and Jahrome Hughes were at their creative best to terrorise the Knights' right edge who had no answers as they slumped to the bottom of the Telstra Premiership ladder.

Dragons v Wests Tigers: Bird out, Amone in; Kepaoa back

Back-to-back wins for both the Dragons and Wests Tigers the past fortnight sets up a mouth watering clash at WIN Stadium on Sunday to conclude round eight.

It wasn't too long ago both clubs, players and coaches were under pressure with heavy losses to start the year. 

The Dragons' ANZAC day win over the Roosters was clinical to start before they rolled up their sleeves and defended their way to victory.

Knights v Storm: Mann out; Wishart back on bench

The usually-proud Hunter faithful were left reeling after the Knights produced their poorest performance of the year to go down 39-2 to the Eels.

Their attack has been an issue for the better part of 18 months but none more so than against an Eels outfit who in return strolled over the line last week in a defensive display that left Adam O'Brien apologising after the siren.

The Storm, well, the complete opposite for them. Their 70-point showing against the Warriors was fascinating to watch with 56 of those points coming in one half of football for an NRL record.

Top End talent: Feldt fires as Cowboys stun Eels in Darwin

With Reuben Cotter and Reece Robson tackling themselves to a standstill and Feldt snaring the fourth hat-trick of his career the Cowboys ensured Chad Townsend would celebrate his 200th NRL game in style.

The Cowboys opened the scoring through a Val Holmes penalty goal in the 17th minute and produced some strong defence to keep the Eels at bay before grabbing the first try of the night through Feldt.

Feldt's try came courtesy of a great long ball by Scott Drinkwater and took Todd Payten's men out to an 8-0 lead.

Addo-Carr in overdrive as Bulldogs stun Roosters

Heading into the game on a six-game losing streak and with their skipper Josh Jackson sidelined by COVID, the Bulldogs dug deep to stun the star-studded Roosters outfit.

The Bulldogs struck the first blow of the night in the 14th minute when Addo-Carr caught the Roosters napping with a short side raid out of dummy half and carried two defenders over the line to score.

Come the 21st minute and 'The Foxx' had a double as he took an intercept on his own 10-metre line and raced 90 metres to touch down and the underdogs were up 10-0.