The Junior Representative season came to an end for the Panthers following the Round 9 matches.
The SG Ball finished on a high with a huge win, while the Harold Matthews side had the bye in the final round of the regular season.
The Lisa Fiaola and Tarsha Gales squads both suffered defeats but showed some great signs throughout the season.
SG BALL
The Panthers travelled to 4 pines park to finish their season and came away with a dominant victory over the Sea Eagles on Saturday afternoon.
The Panthers got off to a super start when Josiah Vaha’akolo Fifita crashed over in just the second minute of the game, beating multiple defenders on a barnstorming run. Conversion successful, 6-0
They were running downhill to start this game, with the ensuing set seeing them get inside Manly's territory and pin them inside their ten. The defensive set allowed some metres though and the next couple of minutes was end to end.
Tua Patea came up with a one on one strip in the 6th minute, giving the Panthers a prime attacking opportunity. They peppered Manly’s line and a 6 again added more pressure. A Cameron Robertson cutout to Thomas Vanegas gave him just enough space to turn around and reach out to score. Conversion unsuccessful, 10-0
Vaha’akola Fifita was in a damaging mood, carrying the ball with intent and came very close to scoring a double. He had the Panthers on the front foot early in this game, with the assistance of the super consistent Hokafonu Lemoto.
This time the Panthers went left and Robertson hit Poutua Hotere-Papalii with a cutout who scored easily in the corner, beating his opposing centre. Conversion unsuccessful, 14-0.
Jaxen Edgar’s return was more than Welcome for Penrith, as the star fullbacks running game started off very strongly. In the 21st minute, Kye Raven managed to get an offload away to Jensen Tuaoi who straightened up and found Edgar back on the inside in support to extend the Panthers lead. Conversion successful, 20-0.
Vanegas came up with a great play, to bat in an attempted kick for touch to give Penrith another opportunity in the back end of the first half. Manly’s defence repelled the Panthers, with a turnover late in their 2nd attacking set. A more comical penalty ensued with Jack Ewer throwing a Manly player's boot behind him on his way back to the defensive line, marching Manly upfield. HALF TIME 20-0
It took 8 minutes for the Panthers to score their first try of the second half. Hotere-Papalii continued his impressive game, splitting the Sea Eagles open from 30 metres out, before finding Edgar in support for his second. Conversion successful, 26-0.
In the 53rd minute, Zaid Lehn caught Manly sleeping with a quick tap, darting between defenders who had their back to him, and sliding to the line to continue the Panthers dominant performance. Conversion successful, 32-0.
Vaha’akola Fifita was barely denied a well deserved second, when Robertson danced between defenders and laid on a crazy offload which Josiah hit at pace, but was chopped down millimetres short.
The majority of the second half was spent going back and forth, with both teams' attacks getting a roll on, but the Panthers defence was significantly better inside their half.
In the 66th minute, Jensen Tuaoi capped off what was a great performance with a ducking and diving try, weaving through multiple defenders before sliding over. Conversion successful, 38-0.
Cameron Robertson got a handy reward for a good game, right at the end when a charge down bounced around and found its way into the in goal, where he won the race to the ball in the final seconds of the game. Conversion to bench prop Hayden Brown was successful in a great way to end the season for the Panthers, 44-0.
-Jacob Tyson
Lisa Fiaola Cup
A tough end to the season for the Lisa Fiaoloa Panthers, defeated by the Parramatta Eels 30-4 on Thursday night at Eric Tweedale Stadium.
The Panthers were setting up for a tough game against a strong Eels side, with the match heavily dominated by the defence of the opposition. Penrith started the game strong, completing 9 of their 12 sets in the first half and were committed in defence, holding the Eels inside their own half.
Despite some strong goal line defence the Panthers were the first to concede with the Eels Aaliyah Soufan slicing through a gap before offloading to Danielle Seckold to score out wide. Conversion unsuccessfully, 4-0.
The Penrith girls started to enjoy good field position and set up strong scoring opportunities but were unable to convert the possession into much needed points. With five minutes in the half to go, the Panthers were caught short on the blind side paving the way for the Eels Nikita E to storm on over the line. Conversion unsuccessful, 8-0.
A minute left on the clock and the Panthers were taking a chance on every opportunity the created to ensure they wouldn’t be entering half time with no points on the board. A grubber kick on the last tackle by Penrith halfback Naioka Tuipulotu bounced off the Parramatta defence and found the hands of Aaliyah Womal who put the ball down in goal. A nice reward for a busy game
in attack and defence. Conversion unsuccessful, leaving the score 8-4 into half time.
The second half did not play out in favour of Penrith, with Parramatta running away with possession and overall dominance against the Panthers side.
Three minutes into the half, the Eels played their chances through the middle ruck charging their way over the Panthers defence to score under the posts. Conversion successful, 14-4.
Only moments later the opposition found themselves storming over Penrith’s defence, diving over the line to score their second of the half. Conversion successful, 20-4.
Lack of possession, injuries and a heavy penalty count was starting to take its toll on the Panthers' tiring defence and the Eels continued to make easy metres off the back of Penrith’s errors, finding themselves over the line three more times to take out the game 30 points to 4.
-Alyssa Bone
Tarsha Gale
The Tarsha Gale Panthers had a tough day in the office in what was an entertaining Thursday night’s clash against the Parramatta Eels, defeated score at Eric Tweedale Stadium.
Penrith put up a tough fight against the home side, making solid ground and completions throughout the game. Taylor Keppie was in strong form making several breaks through the Eels line and was supported by her teammates throughout set plays.
Possession in the first half remained relatively even, with both sides completing sets and making heavy hits. Penrith lost Beatres Luka in the opening minute of the game to a HIA, but remained in strong form in both defence and attack. After multiple near opportunities for both teams it was Parramatta who gained the first points, with Liaina Dimech toppling over the Penrith defence to score. Conversion successful, 6-0.
On the next set Penrith made good metres, finding themselves attacking inside the Eels 10. The girls had two close opportunities to cross the line but were unable to convert their strength into points. The Panthers had to withstand some strong attacking plays by Parramatta, with heavy hits forcing gaps in Penrith’s defensive line. A quick break down the middle by the Eels saw the side make an easy 50 metres and a nice play through the line found the ball in the hands of
Leila Black who scored out wide. Conversion unsuccessful, 10-0.
A late penalty proved costly for the Panthers, with the Eels charging over to score under the posts with seconds left on the clock. An easy conversion leaving the score standing at 16-0 at halftime.
A fierce start to the second half saw Parramatta battle their way across the line, finding themselves diving over the line out wide twice. One try successfully converted, 24-0.
Possession quickly became dominated in the Eels favour, with the Panthers defending their own line for majority of the half. A combination of errors and a tiring defensive line saw Penrith struggle to make any valuable metres.
Injury struck both teams late in the half with both teams losing players in the back of play, however, Parramatta’s power proved to be too strong for the visiting Penrith side. With four minutes remaining in the match, the Eels charged their way back over the line increasing their lead to 28-0. Conversion unsuccessful.
10 seconds left on the clock and Parramatta scored their final try of the match, sealing victory over the Panthers 32-0.
-Alyssa Bone
