The Panthers collected their fifth win for The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup season with a convincing six-tries to one win over the Sydney Roosters at Mascot Oval today.
The 32-6 victory followed a dominant 56-0 win over the Manly Sea Eagles a week ago showing the Panthers attack is on song producing 58 points in two matches, while conceding just the one try.
Winger Asu Kepaoa scored a hat-trick today after taking a double against the Sea Eagles.
Leading 16-6 at halftime the damage was mainly done by the Panthers left-edge sweeps leading to the first three tries of the afternoon.
Kepaoa struck first after just six minutes followed by centre David Fale seven minutes later when NRL five-eighth Jack Cole put him through a gap.
Cole was again involved with Kepaoa getting his double in the 28th miunute.
In between the Roosters did have a moment of brilliance, when prop Makahesi Makatoa sent a superb short pass for his back-rower Aston Warwick to crash over and score against his old club.
The Roosters were desperate to get their game back on track. They enjoyed wins over Canberra Raiders and South Sydney before suffering a 32-point loss against St George Illawarra last weekend.
The Roosters are in a log-jam with three others clubs on six competition points sitting from sixth to ninth place on the ladder and all wanting to crack into the top-five.
They were held scoreless in the second half today by the Panthers, who showed off their skills early after the break.
In the 41st minute a Cole grubber kick towards the in-goal was flicked back before the dead-ball line by fullback Daine Laurie for lock Matt Eisenhuth to pounce on (22-6).
The Roosters were searching for composure and a chance to get back in the match. But two more tries from the Panthers sealed the deal.
First a break by Panthers halfback Trent Toelau was well supported by winger Jesse McLean, who ran another 30 metres.
Off the back of the next play, Kepaoa scored his third try to push the scoreboard out further (28-6).
McLean was at it again three minutes from full-time with an 70-metre bust upfield picking up a loose Roosters pass. The next play and second rower Mavrik Geyer was in open space on the left edge.
Toelau landed four from six conversions.
Talking points
- Asu Kepaoa has now scored 11 tries in seven games to shoot to the top of the try-scoring list for The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup so far.
- These two clubs met in Round Two which means the Panthers are now 2-0 after a 38-10 win five weeks ago and the 32-6 victory today.
Key moment
Roosters half Josh Durkin kicked a 40-20 to put the Roosters on the attack in the 45th minute, and then Panthers five-eighth Jack Cole was sin-binned for tackling a player without the ball.
But a loose Roosters pass saw the Penrith team, reduced to 12 men, shift the ball 100 metres upfield for Kepaoa to score his third try and put the match beyond doubt.
What's next
The Panthers travel to Belmore Oval next Saturday to face Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, while the Roosters can put their feet up with a Round Eight bye.
Match report courtesy of NSWRL.
