HAROLD MATTHEWS
It was a tough day in the office for the Panthers Harold Matthews as the Bulldogs piled on the points in a 46-10 thrashing at Windsor on Saturday morning.
Despite the loss, Panthers forwards Heinz Lemoto and Talmage Brown both had strong performances, but it was the Bulldogs left edge who stole the show, scoring 36 points down that side.
In the 3rd minute, Penrith struck the first blow, when Cameron Bamblett scored an amazing chip ‘n’ chase try on the final play of the set. He put a chip over the top and got a favourable bounce to recover it, before beating the fullback one on one to score. Conversion successful, 6-0.
An error from a kick return put Penrith under defensive pressure for the first time in the game. The Bulldogs didn’t take long to capitalise when halfback Matthew Barakat put a perfectly placed kick into the corner for winger Paul Johnson to score in the 8th minute. Conversion successful, 6-6.
The Bulldogs returned the favour off the kick off, spilling it cold and giving Penrith possession in their red zone. It only took a few tackles for Penrith to score, with Jhett Sydir taking a hit as he dug into the line, putting on a perfect pass for Hunter Bell to score in the corner. Conversion unsuccessful, 10-6.
In the 14th minute, it appeared as if Hunter Bell had gotten a freebie when Bulldogs spilled it inside their ten off a Jhett Sydir kick, the Penrith captain pounced on it and scored under the sticks, but the play was called back for a double knock on. Penrith didn’t capitalise, handing back possession on their first backline shift after the error.
The Bulldogs thanks to that error marched upfield, before scoring a brilliant team try. Barakat opened the space for Braith Sloane, who just had to draw in the Penrith winger to put Paul Johnson through down the left hand touchline. Carter came across in cover defence but the Bulldogs winger found his halfback Barakat, who scored under the post. Conversion successful, 10-12.
The Bulldogs were riding momentum now, dominating the middle and getting upfield with ease. A late offload gave their centre Chinedu Udeh some space to move, and he put on a brilliant display of footwork to break through the Penrith defensive line, before getting an offload away to Itula Seve, who just had to fall over the line to score. Conversion successful, 10-18.
The Bulldogs then made it three tries from three consecutive sets, when once again Barakat put Sloane into space. This time Sloane didn’t need his winger, bursting into open space and finding hooker Mason Phillips on the inside for yet another four-pointer. Conversion successful, 10-24.
The Bulldogs finished a near perfect first half, when a backline shift left a two on one for Sloane and Johnson, who combined once again for a Bulldogs try in the corner. Conversion successful, 10-30.
Penrith worked their way back into the game in the second half, but couldn’t convert any of their attacking raids into points, errors costing them.
In the 40th minute, the Bulldogs left edge attacked again, Barakat, Sloane and Johnson combining, before finding Malaki Ah-Loo in support on the inside to extend the lead. Conversion successful, 10-36.
The Penrith crowd had something to cheer for in the 43rd minute when Heinz Lemoto saved a tough yardage set by bursting straight through the line. He found Cedric Peti-Tafola in support but a valiant defensive effort from Itula Seve stopped what was a potential 80-metre Penrith try.
The Bulldogs broke through the line once again, when Tawa-Dean Simpkins went through from the scrum. He was brought down by Cameron Bamblett but it wasn't long after that Mason Phillips crashed over from dummy half. Conversion successful, 10-42.
Bulldogs scored again right at the full time buzzer, when a loose ball was recovered by Elijah Tu’ifua who cut out the centre to put Jope Rauqe over untouched. Conversion successful, 10-46.
SG BALL
The Panthers SG ball played out a thriller at Windsor on Saturday against the Bulldogs. The game went right down to the wire, ending in a 22-22 draw.
Mitchell Heather was on fire for Penrith, contributing to three of their five tries, as well as great performances from the Panthers middles in Kye Raven and Hokafonu Lemoto.
In the opening five minutes, the Bulldogs dominated possession, attacking the Panthers line and piling on the pressure. It looked like Fanafou Seve had scored for the Bulldogs early, but the Panthers forwards Kye Raven and Hokafonu Lemoto put in a brilliant effort to hold him up.
Just a minute later, the Bulldogs did eventually cross, with Roy Tatupu throwing a brilliant cutout to Chelden Hayward who’s diving finish was spectacular. Conversion unsuccessful, 0-4.
The Panthers returned serve in the 13th minute, when Jett Cleary was rushed by the markers on last, forcing him back down the blindside. He tipped on to Cameron Robertson, who threw a brilliant cutout for Hotere-Papalii who’s finish was even more spectacular then the earlier try to Hayward. Conversion unsuccessful, 4-4.
The Panthers came agonisingly close on multiple occasions through the next ten minutes, most notably when Kye Raven burst onto a short ball from Jensen Tuaoi and fell over the line but had a Bulldogs defender underneath him, preventing the four-pointer.
Penrith found more points in the 21st minute, when a backline shift that started with Cleary and Attard created space for Mitchell Heather who simply had to convert the 2 on 1 to put Harry Wald over in the corner. Conversion unsuccessful, 8-4.
Jett Cleary extended the lead when a grubber for himself on the last bounced between multiple Bulldogs defenders before Cleary pounced on it to score. Conversion successful, 14-4.
The Bulldogs star halves pairing Alex Conti and Mitchell Woods combined late in the half to cut the deficit to one try, when Conti dug into the line before passing for Woods who went himself to score. Conversion successful, 14-10
The Panthers opened the second half account in their first attacking set. Mitchell Heather looked like he was getting taken out of play but somehow pulled off a flick pass that found Harry Wald, who saw the line in front of him wide open. Conversion unsuccessful, 18-10.
Penrith's aggressive defence changed the game. They were intense throughout the second half, rushing up and forcing errors. In the 45th minute they piled the pressure on when they forced the Bulldogs into touch seemingly from nothing, giving themselves a chance to build pressure inside Canterbury’s half.
An error at fullback from Penrith gave the Bulldogs a chance and they immediately capitalised. Bud Smith crashing over in the 46th minute after a good ball from Bailey Myers out of hooker. Conversion successful, 18-16.
In the 53rd minute, Jack Attard put up an attacking kick, with Harry Wald putting pressure on the Bulldogs winger forcing an error. Mitchell Heather was the first to the loose ball, kicking it between the Fullbacks legs and regathering it himself to score. Conversion unsuccessful, 22-16.
Alex Conti returned serve in the Bulldogs next set, when he put a grubber kick in which was fumbled by Penrith, and regathered by Conti who just had to force the ball down to level scoring. Conversion successful, 22-22.
With three minutes left in the game, Penrith had a great chance to win it, attacking the Bulldogs line. On fifth tackle, Cleary opted to run it, shifting it right finding the man with the hot hand, Mitchell Heather, but bulldogs defence remained composed and forced him out of play.
The Bulldogs had the ball in Penrith's red zone with just a minute to go, but some strong defence forced an error saving the game. Penrith had one final set to get it done, but from within their own 20 it was an uphill battle, and Jack Attards field goal attempt from 45 metres out fell short.
Full time 22-22
