The NSW Cup Panthers overcame the sodden conditions to sink Mounties 28-8 at Bankwest Stadium on Saturday.
The Panthers held Mounties scoreless in the second half to secure the victory, after centre Izack Tago had earlier grabbed a first half double.
Mounties opened the scoring in the 9th minute as Panthers fullback Sunia Turuva fumbled a grubber and Rhys Davies swooped to plant the ball over the line. The conversion attempt from Aaron Schoupp was unsuccessful.
The home side extended their lead to 8-0 three minutes later as winger Watson Heleta stepped back inside to crash over despite the attention of a trio of Panthers defenders.
The Panthers hit back in the 29th minute as Izack Tago won the race to a deft Matt Burton grubber. Kurt Falls nailed the conversion from out wide but Mounties remained ahead 8-6.
Tago grabbed his second try in the final minute before the break as he dummied and took on the defence. The successful conversion gave the Panthers a four-point lead.
HALF-TIME: Panthers 12 - Mounties 8
The Panthers extended their lead early in the second half after Kurt Falls took the line on in the 47th minute. The crafty halfback poked his head through and found Billy Burns in support who strolled over. The conversion from right in front took the lead to 18-8.
Burton took the line on and swivelled his way over in the 54th minute of play. Falls’ conversion took the lead out to 16 with just over a quarter of the game to play.
Burton extended the lead once more when he slotted a penalty goal with just 15 minutes left to play.
Falls troubled the scorers with another penalty goal with just three minutes remaining to seal a comfortable victory in trying conditions at Bankwest Stadium.
FULL-TIME: Panthers 28 – Mounties 8
