The SG Ball Panthers have beaten the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 42-10 in a one-sided affair on a damp Saturday afternoon at HE Laybutt Field.
The 32-point win secures a top two finish for the Panthers, giving them a week off in the first round of the finals.
The Penrith team were impressive in both attack and defence, always gaining good yardage through their forwards while driving the Bulldogs back with strong tackles.
Riley Pollard was perfect with the boot, converting seven tries, while Jenson Tuaoi and Luron Patea were too much for the Bulldogs defence to handle.
Pollard opened the scoring in the 3rd minute, spotting a gap close to the try line before using good footwork and strength to wrestle his way over. He then stepped up to the tee to convert his own try, 6-0.
The Panthers extended their lead in the 9th minute when the backline identified an overlap on the lefthand side, shifting the ball all the way to winger Jirah Liddiard to finish off in the corner. Beautiful sideline conversion, 12-0.
The Panthers halves would then combine for Penrith’s third try of the afternoon. Riley Pollard dribbled a grubber through the line for halfback Luke Hanson to dive on. Conversion successful, 18-0.
The Bulldogs hit back in the 21st minute, substitute Fanafou Seve fighting his way to the line to get his team back in contention. Conversion successful, 18-6.
The Panthers continued to impress with and without the ball, their hard-hitting defence ensuring the Bulldogs were never able to get any easy field position.
With a minute to go in the half, Billy Phillips accelerated through a tired defensive line, running 40 metres before stepping the fullback and racing away to give his team all the momentum going into the sheds. Conversion successful, 24-6.
Jenson Tuaoi capitalised on a quick play the ball in the 45th minute, darting out from dummy half to muscle his way over the try line. Conversion by Pollard successful, 30-6.
The Bulldogs jagged a try back in the 50th minute, this time Jones skipped across the face of the defensive line before passing the ball to Daniel Corcoran to score in the corner. Sideline conversion unsuccessful, 30-10.
The home team would snuff out any chance of a comeback when Luron Patea crashed over in the 56th minute. Riley Pollard continued his perfect day with the boot, 36-10.
Poutoa Hotere-Papalii scored a magnificent solo try in the 62nd minute, getting his hands on a loose ball and running 50 metres before dragging a defender over the try line with him. Conversion successful, 42-10.
The convincing win sees the Panthers cement their position in the top two of the table, having only lost a single game this season.
