Dragons
stepping up heading to the play-offs
Report
from: Alison
Nolan
03/08/03
In
front of a vocal crowd at WIN Stadium, including
friends and family of Tingha aboard the Tingha express,
the home side did it well to defeat the Panthers
by 34-28 in an action packed battle from start to
finish.
A
couple of controversial video ref decisions did
not go the Panthers way, but that's in no way taking
anything from a Dragons pack that today would probably
defeated any team in the NRL competition. The commitment
both on defence and attack was evident right from
the onset.
The
never say die attitude by the Penrith side saw them
crawl back into the game after being behind at one
stage by 20-0.
A
high scoring first half had the Dragons ahead at
the break by 24-10.
The
second half was as fast and furious as the first
40 minutes, giving the crowd at WIN Stadium their
money's worth. Both sides there to win, scoring
points, Blacklock getting a hat trick and almost
4 tries, the game had it all right to the final
whistle.
Scorers:
DRAGONS 34
Tries: Riddell, Blacklock 3, Howell, Cooper
Goals: Riddell (3/4), Firman (2/3)
defeated
PANTHERS 28
Tries: Campbell 2, Rooney 2, Whatuira
Goals: Girdler (4/5)
Sunday
3 August 2003
3:00 PM
WIN Stadium
Referee: Paul Simpkins
Video Referee: Eddie Ward
Leagueunlimited
players of the match:
3
- L Thompson (Dragons)
2 - N Blacklock (Dragons)
1 - L Priddis (Panthers)
By
the clock:
6th
min: TRY - Riddell for Dragons. Choosing against
the 2 points from a penalty close to the line, 5th
tackle and Riddell crashes over the line. Riddell
converts his own try from 15 metres in from touch.
Dragons 6-0
12th
min: PENALTY GOAL - Riddell for Dragons. Back to
back penalties and the Dragons get further in front.
Quick plays are rattling the Panthers defence. Dragons
8-0
15th
min: TRY - Blacklock for Dragons. Tremendous effort
by Blacklock close to the line, to turn and slam
the ball down. This after being involved earlier
in the attack from the overlap. Video ref awards
the try. Riddell from 9 metres in from touch, gets
a beauty kick. Dragons 14-0
19th
min: NEWS - Firman (Dragons) very close to scoring
after chipping over the defensive line, regathering.
Unfortunately his pass went forward
22nd
min: NEWS - Pridis (Panthers) disallowed a try from
the video ref, deemed to be a double movement. Very
debatable decision and one the Panthers fans in
the crowd are disgraced by. No change to the score,
Dragons lead 14-0
24th
min: TRY - Howell for Dragons. Another controversial
decision by the video ref, this time going the Dragons
way. The ball seemed to have been knocked on by
Blacklock, but the video ref says it went back.
Firman converts the try. Dragons 20-0
27th
min: TRY - Campbell for Panthers. Finally some luck
goes the Panthers way, an intercept to Campbell
who runs 90 metres to score. If he hadn't grabbed
the intercept, the Dragons would've been in again.
Girdler from 9 metres in, just misses Dragons 20-4
31st
min: TRY - Rooney for Panthers. A perfect high kick
by Campbell to his winger who jumps high and scores.
Girdler from the same position as his last kick,
adds the extra 2 points. Dragons 20-10
33rd
min: TRY - Blacklock for Dragons. A typical Dragons
try. Great go forward, a chip through by Firman
who runs to the line, and Blacklock gets his second.
Firman from just in the touch line, misses the kick.
Dragons 24-10
39th
min: NEWS - Lewis (Panthers) unlucky to score after
a little chip through by Gower bounces in his face.
He claims a try but the ref wants no part of it
HALF
TIME: An action packed first half. Dragons lead
24-10
42nd
min: NEWS - Hornby (Dragons) gets the call from
the video ref disallowing his try. Dragons players
in front of the kicker. Field position was excellent
after Gower kicked the ball out on the full
45th
min: TRY - Cooper for Dragons. A penalty gets the
Dragons closer to the tryline. Very soft defence
by the Panthers lets a flying Cooper over the line.
Tremendous effort by the Dragons players to continue
the way they've been playing throughout the first
half. Firman adds the extra 2 points. Dragons 30-10
46th
min: NEWS - Riddell (Dragons) downed by an accidental
high shot. He stays on the field and play continues
52nd
min: NEWS - Crunching defence by the Dragons stop
the Panther attack on their tryline, dead. The score
remains 30-10
54th
min: TRY - Whatuira for Panthers. Swain breaks through
Riddell's tackle and Whatuira is there in support.
Girdler adds the 2 points. Dragons 30-16
57th
min: TRY - Campbell for Panthers. Pridis breaks
the defensive line at speed. A flying Campbell in
support will never be caught. Girdler adds 2 points
from the conversion. Dragons 30-22
65th
min: NEWS - A see saw battle developing with neither
side wanting to give up more points. Riddell (Dragons)
put on report for a high shot
67th
min: A 40/20 kick to Firman fires up his Dragons
team mates. Tremendous play!
68th
min: TRY - Blacklock for Dragons. Tingha gets his
hat trick in front of his family. A hint of a forward
pass but the points are there. Play from the scrum
too easy for the Dragons who score on the 1st tackle.
Riddell from the sideline, just shaves the upright
and misses. Dragons 34-22
72nd
min: NEWS - Firman(Dragons) goes for the field goal,
charged down by Puletua, Panthers get possession
74th
min: NEWS - Blacklock (Dragons) very very close
to scoring with great acrobatics in the corner.
The corner post was just taken out before he grounded
the ball, tremendous effort though. Dragons remain
34-22 in front
77th
min: TRY - Rooney for Panthers. Excellent break
by Girdler to set up Rooney for the corner. The
wingers arms stretch out and scores. Another call
for the video ref, who has worked overtime. Girdler
right on the sideline, gets another of those classic
kicks. Dragons 34-28
FULL
TIME: The Panthers try right to the end, to the
two siren, but the Dragons too good on the day and
deserve the win
