Knights 14 Storm 20
Cowboys 28 Panthers 20
Melbourne made it two from two when they held their nerve to beat Newcastle in a thriller in Newcastle last night.
It was 70 minutes before Melbourne gained the lead after they spent much of the match repelling assaults from the fired-up Knights.
Newcastle had more than their share
of chances and Melbourne showed the composure of champions to hold them out. Defence won them the game.
The Storm were rocked by an early try by speedy Fijian wing Akuila Uate, who started it with a long, sweeping run and finished it in the corner. Wes Naiqama goaled and the Knights led 6-0.
Newcastle continued to assert themselves and there was a second try after 22 minutes when wing Adam MacDougall scored in the right corner.
But a few minutes later the Storm mounted their first concerted attack and Luke MacDougall, brother of Adam, gathered a long pass from Billy Slater and scored in the corner.
They pegged back the deficit to four points seven minutes before halftime when Anthony Quinn latched on to a long pass from Cameron Smith to outflank the cover.
Newcastle went to the break ahead 14-12 but it was Melbourne, after a slow start, who had the momentum. There was thrust and counter thrust in a scoreless third quarter in which Newcastle, despite the urgings of the crowd of more than 16,000, were unable to add to their narrow lead.
Then, 10 minutes from time, it all went wrong for the Knights.
Melbourne, who had soaked up enormous pressure, counter-attacked with a scorching 50m run from Brett Finch who drew the defence and sent centre Dane Nielsen racing 20m to the line.
Smith converted for a lead the Storm never surrendered..
Meanwhile the Panthers pounced on a 14-2 lead after half an hour against the Cowboys but couldn't withstand their spirited comeback late last night.
The Panthers started strongly with two tries by lock Luke Lewis and one by Luke Walsh and looked in control but two tries to Cowboys second rower Scott Bolton, locked the scores at 20-20 with 25 minutes to go.
Cowboys winger Michael Bani then rocketed over after slipping away from three defenders in a 60m move.
At 26-20, the Panthers looked de-clawed but centre Michael Jennings just missed a try - before Jonathan Thurston settled matters with a penalty kick.
Newcastle 14 (A. Uate, A. MacDougall tries, W. Naiqama 3 goals); Melbourne 20 (L. MacDougall, A. Quinn, D. Nielsen tries, C. Smith 4 goals). Halftime: Newcastle, 14-12.
Cowboys 28 (S. Bolton 2, W. Tonga, M. Bani tries; J. Thurston 6 goals), Panthers 20 (L. Lewis 2, L. Walsh tries; M. Gordon 4 goals). Halftime: 2-14.