SG Ball: Panthers won 34-16
Andrew Jackson Panthers Junior Reporter
The SG Ball Panthers found some form in taking down North Sydney Bears 34-16 at Panthers Stadium on Saturday.
Hat-trick hero Jeremy Stowers was electric on the wing while Sadee Sub Laban’s attacking flair was on full display, with the five-eighth recording a try and two try-assists.
After a disappointing 42-18 loss last weekend, the Panthers were eager to bounce back and made a statement immediately after hooker Taylan May barged over to score within the first two minutes.
Penrith then went back-to-back when a looping ball from Sub Laban created an overlap out wide and Ezra Coulton linked with Stowers who dived over in the corner.
The Panthers extended their lead in the 15th minute when Braiden Magele steamed through a gaping hole before being pulled up 10 short of the line. With the Bears defence staggered, Penrith quickly shifted it left and Stowers had his second of the afternoon.
Stowers had the crowd cheering moments later when he transformed a routine scrum feed on Penrith’s own 10 metre line into a genuine try-scoring opportunity. The speedy winger burst straight through the middle before being dragged down on halfway and drawing a crucial penalty.
It gifted the Panthers another shot at North Sydney’s line and they didn’t waste the opportunity. With space out on the left edge, Sub Laban cleverly held the ball up before hitting Coulton on the chest as the centre steamed over.
The Bears eventually hit back in the 20th minute when winger Luke Butfield strolled over in the right corner.
But it proved a minor inconvenience for Penrith as they recorded their fifth try of the half in the 28th minute. Sub Laban was at it again, this time putting through a deft kick which was scooped up by Coulton.
HALF-TIME: Panthers 24 Bears 6
Having had a hand in three of their tries in the first half, Sub Laban was rewarded with a four-pointer of his own in the 45th minute when he pounced on a ricocheted grubber.
But a costly forward pass off the restart saw Penrith hand possession right back to North Sydney and Ryan Weatherall barged over in the left corner moments later.
The Panthers were still up 30-10 and pushed further ahead when Stowers went over for his third try of the afternoon.
In a seesawing second half, the Bears were the next to score when Ali Chara crossed over in what would be the final try of the game.
FULL-TIME: Panthers 34 Bears 16
https://www.penrithpanthers.com.au/news/2019/02/16/panthers-score-convincing-win-over-north-sydney/
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Matts: Panthers won 28-12.
Andrew Jackson Panthers Junior Reporter
Panthers has continued its strong start in the 2019 Harold Matthews Cup competition with a comfortable 28-12 win over North Sydney Bears at Panthers Stadium on Saturday.
After an early grind, the Panthers eventually broke through for the first points of the match when five-eighth Liam Vella danced through the North Sydney defence before muscling his way over.
The try was converted by Jesse Buchan and Penrith lead 6-0 after 20 minutes.
Buchan turned try-scorer eight minutes later when he was put in space on the right touchline and raced 40 metres to score.
HALF-TIME: Panthers 10 Bears 0
The Bears hit back three minutes into the second half when Tye Leyshon burst out of dummy-half, punishing the Panthers for a lapse in concentration.
Suddenly North Sydney were pushing for the lead, only for a dropped ball to be scooped up by Vella who sprinted 90 metres to score his second of the afternoon.
Vella wasn’t the only one showing a turn of pace in Saturday’s game, with Mason Teague slicing through the middle and running away to extend Penrith’s lead to 16 points.
A looping pass out of dummy-half from Nicholas Lenaz created an overlap on the right edge and Panthers halfback Jack Cole quickly linked with Buchan, who recorded his second try of the afternoon.
Norths reduce the deficit to 10 points when Aaron Kurnoth broke through and found Christian Abal backing up in support.
But it would matter little as the Panthers took the game 28-12 to maintain their unbeaten start to 2019.
FULL-TIME: Panthers 28 Bears 12
https://www.penrithpanthers.com.au/news/2019/02/16/panthers-cruise-to-victory-against-bears/
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TG Cup: Panthers def Bulldogs 40-8
Andrew Jackson Panthers Junior Reporter
The Panthers have recorded back-to-back wins to open their Tarsha Gale Cup campaign after crushing Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 40-8 at Panthers Stadium on Saturday.
After trailing 8-6 after 20 minutes, Penrith stormed home in the later stages of the game, scoring 34 unanswered points on the way to victory.
A strong charge from Bulldogs interchange forward Lianimishay Mahara drew a penalty and gifted Canterbury the first scoring opportunity of the morning. And they were quick to capitalise, with Mahara streaming through off a lovely short ball to score in the 16th minute.
A high tackle saw the Panthers marched upfield off the restart and they hit back as Justyce Cleverly zipped through the middle before sprinting away to score under the posts.
The try was converted by Carlene Lever, seeing Penrith take the lead.
Canterbury crossed over right on the siren when they shifted the ball left and created an overlap, with Victoria Barham crossing over in the corner.
20 minutes: Panthers 6 Bulldogs 8
The Panthers didn’t let the late try dampen their resolve though, responding just four minutes into the second third to regain the lead.
It all started off a barnstorming run from Sela Palu, who dragged five Canterbury defenders with her towards the line before quickly playing it for Cydney-Lee Cherrington. The ball was then spread left to Hayley McGregor who sent Alana Everingham-Bryon over untouched.
Penrith then pressured the Bulldogs into a mistake off the restart and extended their lead as a simple right-side shift saw Viviarnna Simpson score.
Riding a wave of momentum, the Panthers added another one shortly after when Reshaun Vaughan steamed onto a cheeky grubber through the middle and raced away. The try was converted by Litiana Tuifua and gave Penrith a 20-8 lead.
A lovely cutout ball from Bree Chester put Vaughan in space again and the winger was only just pulled up short of the line. Chester was at it again the following play, this time offloading for Cherrington to score.
A forward pass saw Canterbury hand possession back to the Panthers, and as they had done all morning, they were quick to capitalise. This time, Kirra Bolland put Livinia Taiseni over in the right corner to extend Penrith’s lead to 20 at the break.
40 minutes: Panthers 28 Bulldogs 8
Cherrington nabbed her second try of the morning when she took the line and scored next to the posts in the 52nd minute.
Emelia Kaafi then pounced on a crossfield kick before looking inside and finding McGregor in support.
Full time: Panthers 40 Bulldogs 8
https://www.penrithpanthers.com.au/news/2019/02/16/panthers-overcome-slow-start-to-bury-bulldogs/
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A big thank you to Andrew Jackson for his great reporting.
