Penrith Panthers NSW Cup team have maintained their ladder-leading position, crushing the Parramatta Eels 25-8 at BlueBet Stadium on Friday evening.
Creative attacking play from Sean O’Sullivan and Soni Luke helped the Panthers nurture an early lead, which they held onto throughout the game.
Kurt Falls knocked over four-from-four conversions, while Sunia Turuva, Robert Jennings, Thomas Jenkins and Eddie Blacker all bagged four-pointers to seal the win for Penrith.
A chip kick from Eels captain Jordan Rankin put winger Sean Russell over in the corner for the first try of the game. But the conversion from touch proved too difficult for the skipper, keeping the visitors just four points ahead of the home side.
Quick play down the left edge through the hands of O’Sullivan and Thomas Jenkins helped Turuva through a gap in the Eels defence, putting him over to open the Panthers’ account in the 15th minute. Kurt Falls’ conversion sailed through the uprights, putting the Panthers in front by two.
Four minutes later Jennings would add another try to the board for Penrith, streaming through off a lovely short ball from Luke off dummy-half. Falls made no mistake with the kick, extending the home sides lead to eight.
Both sides went toe-to-toe for the 20 minutes that followed, but neither team could create an opportunity.
The Eels came hunting for a try in the final minute but coughed the ball up on the line.
HALF-TIME: PANTHERS 12 - EELS 4
O’Sullivan made light work of the Eels in the fifth minute of the second half, testing their defence with a high bomb that was caught by Jenkins who nailed the out-down.
Falls’ conversion bounced off the post before trickling in, giving the Panthers an 18-4 lead.
Christian Crichton looked to be away for his first try of the game after intercepting a pass thrown by Jake Arthur, but the winger’s hopes were short lived, being tackled on the 30-metre line by Rankin.
Attempting to tackle Eels centre Zac Cini, Jennings and Crichton collided in-goal, leaving the ball open for second-rower Jayden Yates to claim a try. Rankin struggled to add the extra two points as Parramatta trailed 18-8.
Quick to respond, prop forward Blacker dived on an O’Sullivan chip-kick to solidify the Panthers lead, with Falls making light work of the conversion seconds later.
A final minute field-goal from O’Sullivan sealed Penrith’s triumphant victory.
FULL-TIME: PANTHERS 25 - EELS 8
