A Cody Lawson hat-trick propelled the Panthers to a 44-10 win over Victoria Thunderbolts at BlueBet Stadium on Saturday.
In the Panthers final home game of the regular season, Hohepa Puru had a hand in a number of tries and scored one of his own while Liam Ison scored a try on his Jersey Flegg debut to seal victory for Jono Rolfe’s team.
Four minutes into the game, Victoria Thunderbolts opened their account after Jack Natapu picked up the ball from dummy half and crashed over under the posts. Tiraa Ua converted the try, giving the visitors a six-point lead.
In the 15th minute Zac Lipowicz delivered a beautiful cut-out ball to Cody Lawson before the right winger scored a highlight-reel try with an acrobatic finish in the corner. Addison Williams slotted the conversion from touch to level the scores.
A scramble for the ball beside the posts ended with Hohepa Puru claiming a four-pointer five minutes later. Williams nailed the conversion from close range to extend the Panthers lead.
Lawson bagged a double in a play that mirrored his first try, as the Panthers exploited the defensive gaps on the right edge. Williams’ conversion was waved away with eight minutes left of the opening half.
HALF-TIME: PANTHERS 16 – THUNDERBOLTS 6
Hohepa Puru broke the Thunderbolts line in the 42nd minute before flicking a pass to Keagan Russell-Smith who found Liam Ison in support. Ison crossed under the posts to score on his Jersey Flegg debut. Williams’ conversion soared through the posts, giving the Panthers a 22-6 lead.
A kick from Niwhai Puru ricocheted off the back of a Thunderbolts defender before bouncing into the hands of Russell-Smith who grounded the ball, adding another four points to the board for the home side. Williams converted the try to increase Penrith’s advantage.
Hohepa Puru provided the spark once again in the 49th minute, splitting the Thunderbolts line before spreading the ball across to Lawson to claim a hat-trick. Williams kicked his fifth conversion of the day to extend the margin to 28.
Am imposing run from William Fakatoumafi saw the centre get on the outside of his man to cross in the corner for his first try of the game. Williams failed to convert the try from the sideline, but Penrith maintained a 38-6 advantage.
Hohepa Puru continued to dominate the middle of the field, streaming through a gap in the line before offloading to Billy Scott who scored untouched under the posts. Williams slotted the extras from in front to put the Panthers within six-points of a half-century.
Two minutes before full-time the Thunderbolts identified an overlap on the left edge, spreading the ball across to Anisi Salani who dived over in the corner. Ua couldn’t convert from touch.
FULL-TIME: PANTHERS 44 – THUNDERBOLTS 10
