The Penrith Panthers Intrust Super Premiership side have fallen to a 16-6 defeat against Mounties in wet and blustery conditions at Aubrey Keech Reserve on Saturday.
Coach Garth Brennan was able to call upon the experience of Tim Browne as a late inclusion to the side, as well as Moses Leota, following a barnstorming performance last week.
A strong start from the home side yielded the first points of the game through Brent Naden after 11 minutes.
Halfback Lachlan Turner’s piercing grubber sat kindly for the centre to rush through ahead of the defence and touch down to give his side an early four point lead.
Mounties would continue to pepper the Panthers line before back-to-back penalties carried the visitors up field.
A quick play the ball caught the defence napping and Mitch Rein took advantage as he burrowed over from dummy half before Darren Nicholls added the extra two to hand the Panthers a 6-4 lead after 21 minutes.
The hosts would regain the lead after the half hour mark through Mitchell Kennedy.
The powerful prop ran on to a short ball from Jarrod Brackenhofer out of dummy half to crash over next to the posts. Jordan Turner converted to make it 10-6, which it remained heading in to half-time.
HALF TIME: Mounties 10 – 6 Penrith Panthers
An energetic start to the second half saw both sides apply plenty of pressure in defence, forcing multiple errors before Mounties broke through first just shy of the hour mark.
A shift to the right caught the Panthers defence napping and despite falling short of the line, Reubenn Rennie was able to pick himself up and score to extend their lead to 16-6.
It looked as though the home side would go in to score a quick fire double if not for a miraculous try-saving effort from Dylan Edwards, resembling Scott Sattler’s memorable tackle.
An error-laden finish to the game saw chances few and far between as the Mounties held on for a ten point victory.
