The NYC Panthers again proved their dominance with a 74-10 thumping of Canberra Raiders at Carrington Park on Saturday.
Top of the table and chalking up some huge wins, the young Panthers conceded the first try of the game but then launched into some of the most impressive football you'll see played in the NYC.
The young Panthers made some late changes with Oliver Clark and Tevita Mapapalangi dropping out of the side, and Daniel Brown and Caleb Aekins added to the teamsheet.
Canberra opened the scoring after only seven minutes as hooker Jesse Martin caught the Panthers defence napping and dived over from close range. Bailey Hartwig was successful with the conversion attempt for a 6-0 lead.
After the Raiders made an error from the kick-off, Panthers hooker Reed Izzard responded with a burrowing effort of his own three minutes later. Nathan Cleary knocked the conversion over to lock the score up at 6-6.
On the back of another Canberra error, the Panthers were on the attack again and Tyrone May showed impressive strength in the tackle to barge his way over. Cleary nailed the conversion for the Panthers to take a 12-6 lead.
Cleary was next to get in on the act, with a simple show-and-go enough for him to slip through the Canberra defence and score a 20th minute try. He backed it up with an accurate conversion and the Panthers were ahead 18-6.
Cowen Epere stretched the Panthers lead with a strong charge from 10 metres out. Cleary converted to make the score 24-6 after 25 minutes.
In the 28th minute Ratu Tuisese split the defence off his kick return and ran 75 metres to score under the posts. Cleary converted and the Panthers lead was out to 30-6.
Cleary threw a beautiful cut-out pass to Braidon Burns for the Panthers centre to score in the 32nd minute. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but the scoreboard read 34-6.
The Panthers were in a punishing mood and continued the pain for Canberra as Corey Waddell took a short ball and crashed over four minutes before the break.
Cleary booted a 40/20 to give the Panthers a final chance before halftime. Dylan Edwards then produced a beautiful flick pass for Tuisese to score his second try.
HALFTIME – Panthers 44-6
It seemed like an age before the Panthers scored their next try but in reality it was only 11 minutes before Rob Jennings added his name to the list of try scorers. Cleary’s perfect sideline conversion meant the Panthers chalked up the half century.
Some silky offloads put Edwards over for a 55th minute try and Cleary converted to make it 56-6.
After some haphazard play four minutes later, Jack Hetherington finished with a try and Cleary with another conversion.
Cleary bagged his second try moments later after breaking free on the back of some well-timed offloads and his conversion made it 68-6.
Canberra restored some pride as prop William Samuel crashed over for a 64th minute try.
Errors began to creep into the Panthers game as they tired and their attack started to come unstuck as they searched for even more points.
However there was still time left for Jake Ennis to snag a try from a Burns offload and ice anothing stunning performance from the young Panthers.
FULLTIME – Panthers 74-10
