The Panthers' Harold Mathews and Tarsha Gale sides recorded impressive wins in Round 5, however the SG Ball team suffered their first loss of the season.
Tarsha Gale Panthers outplay Wests Tigers
Penrith Panthers have claimed their second victory of the Tarsha Gale Cup season, beating the Wests Tigers 22-10 in a nailbiter at BlueBet Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Panthers went close to scoring twice in the opening quarter hour, however they were denied both times due to Tigers players stripping the ball.
Panthers captain Yasmine Baker came up with a trysaver of her own in the 7th minute, producing a perfect cover tackle as the Tigers raced down the sideline.
The Panthers continued to attack, with back-to-back sets on the Tigers line finally resulting in a try to Taya Lazare after a kick was dabbed behind the defence.
Five minutes later they were in again as Jemimah Tagaloamatua produced an offload to send Baker in out wide. Jaida Staben landed the difficult conversion to make the score 10-0.
An error by the Tigers gave the Panthers a perfect opportunity to score in the dying seconds of the first half, with Tagaloamatua crashing over out wide. Staben added the extras after the siren to take a 16-0 lead to half time.
The Panthers got off to a bad start to the second half, making an error with their first use of the ball to give the Tigers attacking field position. From the next set, Taytana Pati Ah-Cheung sliced through to reduce the margin to 16-6.
The Tigers scored again in the 40th minute when Imogen Lowe buried her way over the line out wide. The conversion attempt by Imogen Hope hit the upright, leaving the Panthers a converted try ahead.
They looked like adding a third try five minutes later, only for Mackenzie Doust to come up with a trysaver out wide.
Repeated mistakes gave the Tigers more chances to draw level, however the Penrith defence turned them away at every attempt.
The Panthers were finally able to put some pressure of their own on, with Bella McEachern scoring the match-sealer with two minutes to play. Staben added the goal to take the final margin to 22-10.
- Lachlan Jeffery
Harold Matthews Panthers thump Magpies to enter top four
The Panthers were clinical in both defence and attack as they beat the Western Suburbs Magpies 22-4 to cement a position in the top four.
There was not much to split the two teams, however the Panthers were better able to ice their opportunities and shut down the Magpies attack through good line speed and physicality in defence.
Lock Kye Raven was instrumental in the victory, his tough running game complimented nicely by his silky passing ability. Centre Casey Mclean was explosive with the ball, often bending the defensive line with his runs to give the Panthers momentum in attack.
The home team opened the scoring in the 5th minute when a beautiful offload from second rower Heinz Lemoto allowed Jack Attard to dive over untouched. Conversion successful, 6-0.
In the 6th minute, fullback Jaxen Edgar continued his fine form this season when he executed a beautiful in and away move to get past his man and put centre Cameron Bamblett over in the corner. Conversion slightly wayward, 10-0.
The Magpies replied to the early onslaught with a good left side shift in the 9th minute. Centre Heamasi Makasini found some space and fended off a defender to score the away team’s first try of the morning. Conversion unsuccessful, 10-4
HALF TIME: 10-4
The Panthers extended their lead in the 38th minute when the ball went through the hands to Jacob Kelly, who sprinted down the left wing for 40 metres before turning it back inside to Casey Mclean. Kelly then added the extras with a beautiful sideline conversion, 16-4.
In the 41st minute, lock Kye Raven used his strength and power to steamroll the defensive line, dragging multiple defenders with him in an incredible solo effort to score underneath the posts. Conversion successful, 22-4.
The game would develop into a tense arm wrestle, with both teams having chances to put points on the board but neither able finish off the job thanks to some outstanding defensive efforts.
The Panthers held a comfortable lead for the rest of the game, with the boost in point differential seeing them enter the top four for the first time this season.
FULL TIME: 22-4
- Zach Lee
SG Ball Panthers suffer first loss in tight match
The Panthers went down to the Western Suburbs Magpies 26-22, the match was a seesawing affair until a late try stole it for the away team.
The loss means the Panthers drop down the ladder but remain in the top eight thanks to their unbeaten start to the season.
The Magpies opened the scoring when Jordan Miller steamed onto the ball in the 3rd minute, the barnstorming prop using his size to crash over for the first try of the game. Conversion by Zakauri Clarke successful, 0-6.
The away team extended their lead in the 7th minute when Lachlan Galvin stepped off his right foot and sliced through the line to score. Conversion successful, 0-12.
The Panthers would then hit back in the 22nd minute when Tana Papu thundered onto a short ball and barged his way over to put the ball down on the white line. Conversion successful, 6-12.
In the 30th minute, Luke Hanson showcased his creative flair, providing a sublime ball to Hudson Brown who ran 10 metres and scored the try without a hand laid on him.
Although the conversion was unsuccessful, the Panthers would go into the sheds with all the momentum.
HALF TIME: 10-12
The home team would hit the front for the first time in the 43rd minute when Wilson De Courcey showed outstanding pace to sprint around the Magpies defence and down the righthand wing.
He ran for 40 metres before executing a perfectly weighted chip kick back infield which Riley Pollard pounced on to score under the posts. Conversion successful, 16-12.
The away team would fire back in the 48th minute when fullback Heath Mason burst down the wing and beat a couple of tired defenders to score the Magpies third try of the afternoon. Sideline conversion unsuccessful, 16-16.
In the 53rd minute, centre William Craig broke the line and ran 40 metres before beating the fullback, but a fantastic cover tackle by Billy Phillips stopped what looked to be a certain try.
Two plays later, the Magpies took advantage of the scattered defensive line, shifting the ball all the way to the right to allow Zakauri Clarke to score in the corner. Conversion unsuccessful, 16-20.
In the 62nd minute, Jenson Tuaoi showed great deception from dummy half to give Luron Patea a slight opening. The prop turned a half chance into four points, burrowing under the defence to put the Panthers back in front. Conversion successful, 22-20.
Unable to hold on to their lead, the Magpies would hit the front for a final time in the 66th minute when their hooker scooted out from dummy half and muscled his way over the line. Conversion successful, 22-26.
Despite suffering their first defeat, the SG Ball Panthers remain near the top of the ladder because of their fantastic start to the season.
FULL TIME: 22-26
- Zach Lee
