The Panthers Tarsha Gale Cup team have claimed their first victory of the season, thrashing South Sydney Rabbitohs 28-0 at BlueBet Stadium on Saturday.
An opening half onslaught off the back of Panthers captain Taytana Ifopo in attack helped Penrith to an early lead.
Continuing the strong performances in the second half, Yasmine Baker joined her captain in securing a double.
It didn’t take long for the Panthers to get on the front foot. Ifopo took on the line and found a gap in the Rabbitohs defence, opening the scoring in just the 2nd minute.
Ifopo backed up her individual effort to set up fullback Yasmine Baker five minutes later. Baker planted the ball between under the posts giving Ifopo an easy conversion to put the homeside ahead 10-0.
On the back of a penalty Penrith found themselves in great attacking position once again, spreading the ball through the backline before centre May Tareha weaved through the defence, crossing in the corner to extend the lead further.
With the half-time siren looming a kick-return error from the Rabbitohs gave the Panthers one last scoring opportunity for the half.
Continuing her great start to the game Panthers five-eighth Ifopo would score her second try of the half beside the posts with another committed effort to the line. She converted her own four-pointer on the stroke of half-time.
HALF-TIME: PANTHERS 20 - RABBITOHS 0
Despite holding a sizeable lead the Panthers absorbed plenty of pressure to start the second half before hooker Chelsea Makira regained momentum with a 30-metre run.
Pushing the side into the Rabbitohs half once again it was Baker who this time scored a double in the 40th minute of the match.
The kick bounced off the crossbar for Ifopo, but the Panthers maintained a 24-point lead.
Creating an overlap on the left side, Baker would generate another try-scoring play for Penrith putting centre Hayley Campbell into a gap in the line only to be brought down just short.
Capitalising on a quick play the ball, Makira flicked an inside ball to halfback Brooke Talataina. The number seven weaved through the Rabbitohs tired defensive line to score the Panthers sixth and final try of the match.
FULL-TIME: PANTHERS 28 - RABBITOHS 0
