Our NSW Cup boys produced one of their most professional performances of the season defeating Wentworthville Magpies at Ringrose Park. Away from home they controlled the flow of the game throughout the 80 minutes and added another 2 points to their impressive winning run.
Here is how the action unfolded.
The Panthers opened the scoring in the 19th minute profiting from a penalty in their 20 metre zone. They moved the ball up the field with solid forward runs eventually finding themselves inside the Magpies 20. Some tidy short catch and pass followed from left to right and Eddie Aiona scored next to the corner flag. Will Smith missed the kick and Penrith led 4-0.
The Magpies were quick to level the scores in the 25th minute off the back of a penalty. A series of short distance charges towards the Panthers goal line saw the home team come close to scoring early in the set. The halves then decided to spread the ball wide and John Folau found himself in open space to score in the corner. Luke Kelly missed the conversion and the score was tied 4-4.
We hit the front soon after in the 29th minute after we held the ball for two sets in Wentworthville’s 20. The boys saw the opportunity to throw the ball around and a sensational offload a few metres from the posts led Josh Tangitau to any easy run to score under the black dot. Smith converted the try and Penrith led 10-4.
HALF-TIME: PANTHERS 10 - 4
Ten minutes after half-time Penrith extended their lead. A clever decoy run from the forwards sucked in Wentworthville’s outside backs and gave Sam Scarlett the opportunity to find Nu’u Akeripa with a long, flat pass. Akeripa caught the pass on the burst and slipped through a few Magpies defenders to put the ball down near the posts. Smith kicked the goal and the Panthers took a 16-4 lead.
Josh Tangitau was sent from the field a few minutes after the try by the trainer for a concussion test after he copped a big hit to the head. He came back onto the field in the 58th minute but was removed from the field shortly after.
To sour the win, we were hit with another injury 2 minutes from full-time. This time it was Sam Scarlett who made his way to the sheds for treatment. In an attempt to make a tackle he got caught in a big collision and clutched at his neck.
FULL-TIME: PANTHERS 16 - 4
