Two first half tries to Luke Garner has laid the platform for the Penrith Panthers to claim back-to-back NSW Cup wins for the first time since the opening two rounds, thrashing the Western Suburbs Magpies 40-10 at Leichhardt Oval.
It was a slow start, with both sides failing to execute chances in the opening 10 minutes. The Panthers narrowly avoided conceding a try in the second minute, before Kurt Falls was denied minutes after due to a forward pass.
The Magpies opened the scoring on the quarter hour when Triston Reilly capitalised on back-to-back penalties by fending his way through the line and scoring out wide.
After a sluggish start, a penalty gave the Panthers a perfect attacking opportunity in the 20th minute. A glorious short pass from Trent Toelau put Luke Garner over for his first try of the afternoon. Falls converted, putting the Panthers in front for the first time.
The Panthers began to dominate in the last 10 minutes of the first half, forcing several repeat sets. A deft inside pass from Falls to Preston Riki allowed the forward to slam the ball down next to the posts.
Three sets in a row attacking the Magpies line saw the Panthers score again in the dying minutes of the half, with a short pass from Falls leading to Garner’s second try. Falls added the extras to 18-4 at half time.
The Panthers picked up where they left off from in the first half, with a strong kick return from Tom Jenkins allowing the Panthers to advance downfield. Soni Luke forced a goal line drop out with a deft grubber, before the Panthers ability to keep the ball alive eventually led to a try to Daeon Amituanai, Falls extending the lead to 20.
The Panthers looked to be away again shortly after, however they were penalised for an obstruction.
From the ensuing set, Wests advanced downfield and scored out wide through Israel Ogden. Will Smith converted to reduce the Panthers lead to 24-10.
A cut out pass to Jenkins on the hour mark saw him step inside the Magpies defence to score near the posts. Falls kept his perfect record intact to push the lead back out to 20.
Wests were reduced to 12 in the 70th minute when Brayden Mansfield was sin binned for repeated infringements. They were then reduced to 11 when Will Smith joined him after striking when the situation escalated.
After forcing the Magpies into a poor kick, the Panthers immediately went on the attack, with Toelau and Matt Stimson combining for to break through before Toelau scored out wide. Falls attempted conversion hit the upright, leaving the score at 34-10.
With an intercept off a scrum in the final minute, the Panthers launched one last attacking raid. Stimson was scored a well-deserved try on the siren, before adding the goal to wrap up the 40-10 win.
