The Panthers had a perfect day at Windsor Sports Complex, claiming three wins across three grades.
The SG Ball side claimed their first victory of the season, while the Harold Matthews and Lisa Fiaola sides ensured they both started the season with two wins from two rounds.
The Tarsha Gale team face the Rabbitohs at 2pm on Sunday afternoon at Industree Group Stadium in Gosford.
SG BALL CUP
The SG Ball Panthers claimed the club's third win of the day on Saturday afternoon, with a solid victory over the Rabbitohs 28-10 at Windsor Sports Complex.
Both Penrith and the Rabbitohs took to the field coming off the back of Round 1 losses, with the Panthers proving to be too strong for the away team.
A fumbled ball by the Rabbitohs off the kick off saw the Panthers gain immediate possession. Jenson Tuaoi took advantage of the Rabbitohs' lazy defence, diving over from dummy half to open the scoring. A successful conversion by Harry Wald took the score to 6 - nil.
The Panthers presented themselves with a strong opportunity in the 6th minute, finding themselves over the line once again. However, the joy was short lived with the referee ruling a forward pass and possession turned over to the opposition.
Using the advantage of a strong breeze behind them the Rabbitohs were able to continue pushing the Panthers back into their own half, bombing long kicks to gain good field position.
Following a well sustained defensive effort from the Panthers, the home side was unlucky to see their opponent cross the line - with a well weighted kick opening space in goal for the Rabbits to put themselves onto the score board. Conversion successful, 6 - 6.
On the stroke of half time an offload by the Panthers went to ground confusing the Rabbitohs defensive line, with a swift pick up by Jaxen Edgar setting up Thomas Vanegas to dive over in the corner. Conversion unsuccessful, 10 - 6.
A tackle break by Liam Perrarm set the tone for the Panthers for the second half, with Judah Galuvao reaching out just short of the line. In the next play a long ball by Jett Cleary found Tua Patea who side stepped his opponent to score out wide. Conversion from the sideline by Wald successful, 16 - 6.
For a solid 15 minutes the game was heavily dominated by the defensive efforts of both teams with Panthers Jaxen Edgar and Kye Raven withholding the Rabbitohs attack in goals on multiple occasions. The Panthers finally broke the stalemate and took charge of play in the 52nd minute.
Wald had a strong run down the sideline from inside his own 10, bringing the Panthers attack inside the Rabbitohs 20. Zaid Lehn instigated a run away play near the post, finding Cooper Hale charging onto the ball and muscling his way over the line. Conversion successful, 22 - 6.
Scooting out of dummy half, the Panthers again found Edgar backing up through the middle, offloading his run to Cleary who raced away untouched to score under the posts. Conversion successful, 28 - 6.
In a clean attacking play, with an impressive back line movement, the Rabbits created an overlap in play to send their winger over in the corner. The play turned out to be the last scoring play of the match, with the score finishing 28 - 10.
-Alyssa Bone, Panthers Junior Reporter
HAROLD MATTHEWS CUP
The Panthers held off a late charge by a determined Rabbitohs side to secure a hard-fought 30-20 victory on Saturday afternoon at Windsor Sports Complex.
The boys started off strong in the first half with dominant performances across the board.
Cooper Flood was a workhorse around the ruck holding the Panthers defensive line together. Flood was supported throughout the match by Heinz Lemoto on the edge with several strong runs and line breaks, with Jhett Sydir providing a polished attacking flow to the side.
In the third minute, a nice pass from dummy half saw Cooper Flood crash over the line to open the scoring for the Panthers. Conversion successful. 6 - 0.
Only a few minutes later, a fumbled ball in goal by the Rabbitohs gifted an opportunity for the Panthers. The quick hands of Tanner Crook jumped on the ball to extend the Panthers lead. Conversion unsuccessful. 10 - 0.
Some slick ball movement by the Rabbitohs saw them go the length of the field, before diving over from dummy half to secure their first points of the game. Conversion successful. 10 - 6.
A penalty for undisciplined play put pressure on the Panthers defence, but a great cover tackle in the corner by Jhett Sydir saved a certain try by the Rabbitohs winger.
The penalties and errors continued to add up against the Panthers, placing intense pressure against their defensive line. The storming attack of the Rabbitohs caused a break in Penrith’s back line, with the Rabbits certain they had a try and a chance to take the lead over the home side. However, a saviour offside call saw the score remain 10 - 6 to Penrith.
Penrith were just short of scoring a late try at the end of the half, with a strong run from Heinz Lemoto setting up play inside the Rabbitohs 20. A number of attacking raids by the Panthers set up for the side to cross the line, however Nathanial Tolu fell just short and couldn’t avoid the temptation to reach out, with the referee ruling double movement.
The two teams went into the sheds at half-time with the Panthers leading 10-6.
The Rabbitohs capitalised on an early error in ball handling by the Panthers, scoring out wide in the opening minute of the second half. Conversion unsuccessful, scores are tied.
Only moments later Lemoto had a strong run against the Rabbitohs defence offloading nicely to create an attacking opportunity for his side. The back rower backed up his effort in the next tackle, to score a barnstorming try under the post. Conversion successful, 16 - 10.
An attacking break by Sydir found support inside from fullback Jayden Carter who cleared his opponents through the middle and outpaced the defence to score under the posts. Conversion successful, 22 - 10.
Following sustained pressure on the Rabbitohs try line the Panthers were starting to take back control over the match, with Steven Whalan punching his way over the line. A successful conversion by captain Hunter Bell saw the Panthers lead, 28 - 10.
In the 52nd minute the Rabbitohs found themselves attacking inside the Panthers 10, falling just short of the line on multiple occasions before Taj Aufai-Farani charged over the line from close range. Conversion successful, 28 - 16.
Off the restart of play the Rabbitohs showed they were determined to do whatever it takes to rattle the Panthers, forcing the home side to make a few undisciplined errors. Banking on the opportunities unwillingly created by the Panthers, the Rabbitohs pushed their way back over the try line. Conversion unsuccessful, 28 - 20.
A penalty to the Panthers in the final seconds of the game ended the Rabbitohs chances of taking out the game, with Hunter Bell opting to take the kick to seal victory to the Panthers
-Alyssa Bone, Panthers Junior Reporter
LISA FIAOLA CUP
The Penrith Panthers' Lisa Fiaola side defended the fortress at Windsor sporting complex on Saturday morning, with a determined win over a strong South Sydney outfit.
Centres Hannah Ison and Anita Ropati were very strong running the ball, whilst it was the Panthers' goal line defence that won them the game.
The game started in intense fashion, the Rabbitohs breaking the line in the opening minute of the game through Sybella Hayne. She got to Jade Elford with a support runner but the fullback held her nerve to make contact, and force a forward pass.
Two minutes later, the pressure compounded after multiple errors and penalties from the Panthers, resulting in first points for the Rabbitohs, when Kirrawahn Duckett got the ball down the short side and muscled her way over. Conversion unsuccessful, 0-4
The Panthers struggled to complete their sets early, and gave away a handful of penalties, giving Souths the majority of possession, but some resolute defence kept the score to 4-0 after 10 minutes.
A penalty in the 11th minute gave Penrith a chance to advance the ball down the other end, where they built some pressure, multiple raids down both edges with Sienna Bruce and Jade Elford getting heavily involved. The two teams swapped roles, with some South Sydney penalties allowing pressure to compound, but to no avail for the Panthers who remained scoreless.
Jennifer Tuilagi came onto the field and lit a spark in this game, playing the hitwoman role with some huge shots. Jessica Brightwell was sent to the sin bin in the 25th minute, for a stray elbow, giving the Panthers ten minutes with an extra player.
Despite the woman in the sin bin, South Sydney scored next, through Ella Churchill, who called for it down a short side and did it herself, pushing her way through a gap in the defensive line. Conversion unsuccessful, 0-8
It didn’t take long for the Panthers to answer back, with Kiah Taotofi finding the line in the corner just before the half time break. Conversion unsuccessful, 4-8.
In the 33rd minute, the Panthers made full use of the extra player, crossing the line again, this time through a dummy half crash from Aaliyah Womal. Conversion successful, Panthers took a 10-8 lead.
In the 35th minute, Jessica Brightwell came back on and immediately went very close to scoring, but Round 1 stars Jade Elford and Hannah Ison valiantly held her up to hold onto the Panthers' slim lead.
South Sydney continued to attack for the next five minutes, and it looked like they were certainties to score. The Panthers had another brilliant try-saver when it looked like Veronica Sefo was over for more points, before the referee signalled she was held up after a brilliant effort from Natia Gallagher and Jade Elford under the post.
In the 45th minute, the Panthers were given a player advantage once again, when Kirrawahn Duckett was sin binned for a high tackle. The wet weather took its effect, as both sides made multiple errors over the space of the next five minutes.
The intensity did not drop at all throughout the 60 minutes. South Sydney were shooting out of the line trying to force mistakes, whilst Penrith's scramble defence under pressure was unreal.
In the 58th minute, Georgie Zahra put the nail in the coffin, with a brilliant finish off a nice shift from Penrith. Vella dug into the line and found Elford who just had to tip it on and found Zahra who crashed over the line. Conversion unsuccessful, 14-8.
-Jacob Tyson, Panthers Junior Reporter
