NRL: Panthers pounce as Tigers lose way

NRL
Penrith Panthers 42
West Tigers 22

Three tries in the last 10 minutes gave the Penrith Panthers a decisive win over the West Tigers at Penrith Stadium last night.

The Panthers became the first side this season to win on the weekend after playing on the Monday night but they had to work hard to break the hoodoo.

They scored six tries to four after seeming to be on the ropes in the third quarter. Their cause was helped by Mike Gordon, who kicked nine goals from nine to keep his unblemished record for the season.

A crowd of 16,000 cheered the Panthers to their second consecutive win against the dangerous but enigmatic Tigers.

The Panthers went into the game with some confidence - a 12-10 win over the defending champion, Manly, on Monday night; a 24-10 win over the Tigers in Penrith last year; and an 11-4 advantage in wins over the Tigers.

But the Tigers had confidence of their own - two wins from three games this season, including 16 tries, compared to the seven scored by the Panthers.

It was the Panthers who started the better and, after five minutes of sustained pressure, lock Luke Lewis burst through three tackles to score.

Four minutes later the Panthers were over again, Jarrod Sammut plucking a kick from Lewis out of the air to score a well-executed try. Michael Gordon goaled both tries and the Panthers led 12-0 within the first 10 minutes.

The Tigers had to strike back, and they did.

Benji Marshall slipped a grubber-kick infield towards the goalposts and prop Keith Galloway gathered and crashed over for his first try for two years. Marshall goaled, cutting the deficit to 6-12.

Gordon kicked his 13th consecutive goal of the season to extend the Panthers' lead to 14-6 but Frank Puletua let the Tigers in for their second try when he knocked on the kick-off. Robbie Farah chipped through and Rhys Hanbury scored his first NRL try. Marshall goaled to make it 14-12.

The frenetic pace continued and the Panthers scored their third try after 27 minutes, Trent Waterhouse bursting clear and setting up Michael Jennings for a clear run to the posts. Gordon goaled and the Panthers led 20-12.

Gordon kicked his fifth goal and the Panthers went to halftime with a 22-12 lead. The margin was deserved as the Panthers had dominated possession and territory.

The Tigers' cause was not helped by the loss of fullback Tim Moltzen, who dislocated his elbow and left the field in the first minute.

There was much more urgency about the Tigers in the early stages of the second spell and Dene Halatau ran on to a short ball to score by the posts after 10 minutes, but the try was ruled out because of a forward pass from Todd Payten.

Eight minutes later the Tigers did close the gap when Farah broke clear from dummy half and Hanbury, in support, took the pass and raced to the posts for his second try. Marshall goaled and the Tigers had reduced the deficit to 18-22.

All the energy was with the Tigers and they drew level 17 minutes from the end through a try by wing Taniela Tuiaki. The orchestrator was the outstanding Farah who drew in the defence and set up Tuiaki, who crashed through two tackles to score.

The Panthers regained the lead 10 minutes from the end when Gordon kicked his sixth goal after Frank Pritchard was impeded in the tackle by Hanbury.

That seemed to give the Panthers their second wind and they scored a crucial try two minutes later. Jennings burst down the left and passed infield to Pritchard who charged over. Gordon goaled and the Panthers were eight points in front.

Wade Graham scored the match-clincher four minutes from the end when Sammut bombed, the Tigers could not control the ball and Graham snatched it to make the game safe.

The Panthers were on a roll and fullback Lachlan Coote burst away to score their sixth try. Gordon goaled both tries and the Panthers, in danger a few minutes previously, won by 20 points.

Penrith Panthers 42 (L. Lewis, J. Sammut, M. Jennings, F. Pritchard, W. Graham, L. Coote tries, M. Gordon 9 goals); West Tigers 22 ( K. Galloway, R. Hanbury, 2, T. Tuiaki tries, B. Marshall 3 goals). HT: Panthers, 22-12.