The NSW Cup Panthers took care of business on Saturday afternoon, dismantling the Magpies in a 40-14 victory at BlueBet Stadium.
Opening points came in the 8th minute, when Preston Riki stormed over the line on a crash play, Sommerton finding him from dummy-half. Conversion successful, 6-0.
The attack continued to roll on when Mavrik Geyer burst through, brought down at the ten-metre line. Toelau rolled a kick in off the back of it to force a repeat set, keeping the pressure on the Tigers.
Ativalu Lisati had the crowd on their feet when he bounced his way through defenders, picking up 30 metres, before Toelau went himself off the back of it to score. Conversion successful, 12-0.
Luke Sommerton was next to cash in, scooping up a late offload to burst between two defenders and score, the Panthers extending their lead in the 19th minute. Conversion successful, 18-0.
The Panthers were playing champagne footy deep into the first half, Toelau bursting through off a brilliant offload before finding Jack Cole in support, Cole got close before he was caught by defenders, but he managed to find a late flick pass to Iongi flying through to score. Conversion successful, 24-0.
Luron Patea came onto the field and made immediate impact, punching through and offloading for Sommerton, who drew in the fullback before putting away Niko Apelu who made it hard for himself, front flipping to the line after tripping over. Conversion successful, 30-0.
The Magpies scored at the end of the half, shifting left through the hands, with Alaimalo scoring from the overlap. Conversion unsuccessful, 30-4.
In the 45th minute, a Jayden Sullivan kick was scooped up by Trent Toelau who ran the distance to score. Panthers starting off the second half in similar fashion to the first. Conversion unsuccessful, 34-4.
Both teams were extremely scrappy in the second half, getting into the opponents 20 before making an error, the game going into a repetitive pattern at both ends.
A Jack Cole kick that was rebounded by Magpies defenders resulted in the next points, with Jayden Sullivan scooping the ball up and running the journey. Conversion successful, 34-10.
The Magpies went a man down when Maroun was sent to the sin bin, but it didn’t stop their attack with Kepaoa bursting through the line, but the final pass was ordinary, relieving the Panthers of pressure.
Jesse McLean came up with a moment of brilliance to get the Panthers back on the scoresheet, chasing down a Jack Cole kick, taking it cleanly and then stepping the fullback to score under the sticks. Conversion successful, 40-10.
A consolation try came in the 79th minute, a Sullivan cross field kick finding the arms of Declan Casey, who scored a diving try in the corner. Conversion unsuccessful, 40-14.
