The Acteus Valley Hunters secured a 26-24 victory over the Theodist MBB Marlins with a late penalty goal to seal the game on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at Bava Park in Port Moresby.
This win marked the Hunters' second consecutive victory in the Pepsi Moni Plus Capital Rugby Union competition, following their 17-5 win against the Rushwin Crusaders in round 7 the previous weekend.
Despite facing a tough challenge from the Marlins, the Acteus-sponsored team managed to clinch the win.
"It was a close match. The competition at the moment is really anyone's game. It's not just about the top teams anymore, not about who is in the top three," said captain Jedaiah Katal.
Katal attributed their victory to the team's culture, emphasising the boys' commitment to the training sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Rather than assuming they will perform well on the field, he said they were sticking to the game plan and not using a different line up or players.
"It's not a much different line-up, but I think we've been trying to switch players around, especially in round one,” Katal said.
“But starting in round two and going forward, we have a solid 23-man team. We are trying to maintain that and ensure everyone shows up for training and prepares for the games.”
Katal expressed that the games were tough every weekend. He said regardless of a team's position on the table, the competition at the moment was really competitive and it could be anyone's game, not just for the top teams only.
"It's about who you are playing against on the weekend because at this stage, everyone has adapted to different styles of play. The forwards are becoming more dynamic in sharing the ball, not just running straight ahead," he explained.
Katal mentioned that they would continue with their regular training schedules or sessions, approaching it seriously.
"Preparation-wise, we try not to be too complex but stick to the process and keep working hard," Katal said.
The Valley Hunters have a bye this weekend, providing them with an opportunity to rest and prepare well for the next round.
Comments