Penrith Panthers Jersey Flegg Cup team has been handed a tough 14-0 defeat by the Sydney Roosters at BlueBet Stadium on Friday afternoon.
After losing to the Roosters in Round 11 of the competition, Penrith were hungry to right their wrongs, but wet conditions caused issues across the field for both teams.
Kicking off towards the north end, the Roosters conceded four knock-ons in the opening 10 minutes before scoring the first try of the game.
Within close range of their line, hooker Thomas Deakin scooped the ball up from dummy-half and flicked a pass to five-eighth Hugo Savala who danced around two Panthers before crossing over. Savala converted his own try seconds later to extend the visitors’ lead to six.
Errors plagued both teams as the time elapsed, with neither side gaining an advantage in the wet conditions.
HALF-TIME: PANTHERS 0 – ROOSTERS 6
The first-half stalemate continued well into the second half as the rain ensued at the stadium.
A set restart for Sydney on their try line in the 47th minute helped Deakin create another play for his team, this time sending second-rower Jacob Preston over the line through the Panthers defence. Savala slotted the conversion from medium range, sending the Roosters to a 12-point lead.
Preston’s try ignited a fire under the Roosters, with the visitors stepping up to make crucial tackles and wreak havoc in Penrith’s attacking sets.
With Penrith forwards Ativalu Lisati and Tyreece Matangi placed on report in the final 10 minutes of the game, Savala lined up two penalty goals within three minutes – missing the first and nailing the second.
FULL-TIME: PANTHERS 0 - ROOSTERS 14
