Jamie Soward and the Intrust Super Premiership NSW Panthers put on a great display of attacking football to defeat Newtown Jets 60-6 at St Marys Stadium on Saturday.
The Panthers opened the scoring after just seven minutes of play. Sione Katoa found Jamie Soward who laid on a nice pass to Corey Harawira-Naera who proved too strong for the Newtown defenders. Jamie Soward slotted the conversion to give the Panthers an early 6-0 lead.
Will Smith extended the lead in the 16th minute of play when he finished off a nice backline move.. Jamie Soward converted the try from out wide, handing the Panthers a 12-0 lead.
The Jets got on the scoreboard in the 22nd minute when Mitch Brown made a bust through the middle of the field and found Anthony Moraitis in support. The conversion was successful to reduce the Panthers lead to 6.
The Panthers were helped up field after the Jets gave away their fourth penalty of the half and they took full advantage in the 27th minute. Jamie Soward gave Dylan Edwards some early ball and Edwards showd a nice turn of pace to slice through the Jets line before he swerved his way passed the fullback to score under the posts. Soward converted from in front to give the Panthers an 18-6 lead.
The Panthers made it back-to-back tries when George Jennings made a bust 30 metres out and found Harawira-Naera looming up in support to score his second try of the game. Soward made no mistake from in front, giving Penrith a 24-6 lead.
Jamie Soward continued his great first half when he held up a pass to Zach Dockar-Clay who found his way to the line. Soward ensured he went to the break with a perfect kicking record, easily slotting his 5th conversion of the day.
HALF TIME – Panthers 30-6
The Panthers started the second half much in the same way they did the first. Corey Harawira-Naera bagged his 3rd try of the afternoon in the 43rd minute of the game. Soward converted the try to extend the Panthers lead to 36-6.
In the 52nd minute of the game Soward laid on a great ball to Intrust Super Premiership debutant Kaide Ellis. Ellis had too much strength and scored his first try of the afternoon. Soward converted the try to take the Panthers to a 42-6 lead.
With just over 20 minutes remaining the Panthers had a fresh set of six on the Jets line after Jesse Sene-Lefao put a late shot on Soward. Soward had the last laugh as his curling grubber was dived on by interchange back-rower Jerry Jey. Soward extended his perfect kicking record to 8 from 8. The Panthers lead now reaching 42 points.
The game slowed down in the final 20 minutes as the Jets injury riddled afternoon worsened. Josh Cleeland left the field which ensured the Jets would finish the match with no fit reserves. Zach Dockar-Clay took full advantage in the 71st minute of the game when he darted from dummy half and beat some soft defence in the middle. Soward’s conversion took the score to 54-6.
Panthers winger Josh Hall chimed into the game when he collected a mid-field bomb and ran 30 metres to score untouched. Soward kicked his 10th conversion of the day to take the Panthers to 60 points for the afternoon.
FULL TIME – Panthers 60-6
Tries: Corey Harawira-Naera x 3, Zach Dockar-Clay x 2, Will Smith, Dylan Edwards, Kaide Ellis, Jerry Key, Josh Hall
Goals: Jamie Soward 10 from 10.
