Brothers Take Revenge on Valley Hunters

The battle of the Pepsi Capital Rugby Union (CRU) recent rivals saw the Kramer APAC Brothers hold off the fast-finishing SWG TSI Valley Hunters with a gritty 12-10 victory in their round 13 clash on Saturday, July 12th, 2025, at Bava Park in Port Moresby.

The blockbuster Premier Grade main fixture did not disappoint when the ladder-leading Valley Hunters locked heads with the Brothers to battle for supremacy, which saw the brethren prevail over the defending premiers.  

In their earlier encounter, the SWG TSI-sponsored Valley Hunters defeated the men in black. Having a score to settle, the Brothers did their homework and came prepared over the weekend, exacting revenge on the Ensisi Valley men. 

As anticipated, the heavyweights of Bava Park put their feet down and delivered an enthralling but arm-wrestling contest. The Brothers exerted their dominance in the first half, scoring two tries and keeping the Hunters scoreless to take a 12-0 lead. 

Backpaddling to match the Brothers’ intensity, the Valley Hunters regrouped and found their rhythm in the second spell, registering two tries but falling short by 2 points to equalize the margin. 

The return of Jonah Kautu powered the Brothers to winning ways, sending a warning to the competition of their premiership credentials. Kautu’s game management and leadership were instrumental on the field. 

Following the exodus of a few senior players to rival clubs at the end of last season, the Joe Kautu-coached men were written off. However, the brethren are starting to hit their straps running as the CRU regular season nears its finals.

Despite tasting two narrow losses to the Theodist MBB Marlins and Kramer APAC Brothers, the SWG TSI Valley Hunters still maintain their pole position, while the Brothers are closing in on cementing their top 4 spot. 

With 5 rounds remaining before the finals, the 8 participating teams in the Premier Division, including the A Grade, U20s, U23s and CRU Women’s competition, will increase the pace of their performances as they look to secure their spots in the playoffs.