|
 The
Penrith Panthers have held on to win 31-30
in a stunner against the St George-Illawara
Dragons at Penrith Football Stadium.
It
was a quick start out of the blocks for the
Panthers with Waterhouse charging across the
line off a Gower pass just minutes into the
match.
Moments
later the towering backrower was back at it
again scoring in a similar position and similar
style and when he set up Campbell for the
Panthers third try in just the 14th minute
many would’ve been wondering what all
the fuss was over the Galuvao and Puletua
injuries.
It
didn’t get much better for the Dragons
when Priddis shrugged off two defenders to
score next to the posts and extend the Panthers
lead to 24-0 with barely a quarter of the
match completed.
It
took until the 34th minute for the Dragons
to finally shake off the cobwebs from last
week's bye when Blacklock went in under the
posts to score his 100th try for the joint
venture.
Hornby
followed up with a try of his own and a potential
thumping had turned into a genuine contest
in the space of ten minutes as the Dragons
had clawed their way back to 24-12 at halftime.
Preston
Campbell started the second half for the Panthers
much the same way they started the first as
he took an intercept and ran 90 metres to
score out pacing Matt Cooper in the process.
From
there the Dragons put on two tries, the first
through Timmins and the second through Thompson
off an amazing flick pass from Jason Ryles
to bring them to within six points.
It
was left to Craig Gower to finally put the
last nail in the coffin when he kicked a 35
metre field goal. A tonne of possession and
a last minute try to Dean Young wasn’t
enough for the Dragons as they went down by
that one point off the boot of Gower.
Ultimately
it was Rugby League at its absolute best and
a great way to kick off what could potentially
be one of the tightest finals series in the
competition’s history.
McIntyre
System Rundown:
-Penrith can’t be eliminated this week
of the Finals and need two of the Roosters,
Bulldogs or Broncos to lose their Semi-Finals
to go straight through to a Grand Final Qualifier.
-St George-Illawara face elimination if two
of the Storm, Cowboys or Raiders win their
Semi-Finals, otherwise they will go through
to next week of the Finals.
Scorers:
PANTHERS 31
Tries: Waterhouse 2, Campbell 2, Priddis
Goals: Girdler 5/5, Gower F/G
defeated
DRAGONS 30
Tries: Blacklock, Hornby, Timmins, Thompson,
Young
Goals: Head 5/5
Penrith Football Stadium, Crowd: 21,963
Referee: Sean Hampstead
By
the clock:
Pre-match: Finals fever for 2004 has officially
arrived with the Dragons stepping into enemy
territory in front of a packed Penrith Football
Stadium.
0
min: Sean Hampstead blows his whistle and
we have kick-off in the first semi-final of
the weekend!
3rd
min: TRY - Panthers
Shaun Timmins came racing out of the line
and allowed Rooney to run to the 10 metre
line. With a quick play the ball Waterhouse
stormed towards the line and planted the ball
down. Girdler converts.
Panthers 6-0
6th
min: NEWS - Penrith are on a roll with two
penalties putting them hot on attack on the
Dragons line.
7th
min: TRY - Panthers
It's been a horror start for the Dragons.
On the back of a penalty Waterhouse ran between
two defenders and crashed over the line. Girdler
converts.
Panthers 12-0
11th
min: NEWS - It's been an amazing start from
the Panthers with the Dragons barely seeing
the ball so far in this match. It looks as
though having the bye last round is working
against the Dragons.
14th
min: TRY - Panthers
It gets worse for the Dragons with Waterhouse
again terrorising them by making a big break
up the middle and offloading to put Campbell
away. Girdler converts.
Panthers 18-0
18th
min: TRY - Panthers
A kick out on the full from Gower was touched
by a Dragons player giving the Panthers the
ball back. From the following set Luke Priddis
ran to the line and went through two defenders
to score. Girdler converts.
Panthers 24-0
21st
min: NEWS - The Dragons are really chancing
their arm trying to score points rather than
trying to settle things down and compose themselves.
You get the feeling more points are on the
way soon from one of these sides.
25th
min: NEWS - It could be just one of those
nights for the Dragons. They were awarded
their first penalty of the match giving them
their best field possession of the night but
coughed up the ball.
28th
min: NEWS - St George-Illawara seem to think
their best opportunity of penetrating this
Penrith defence is with short kicks in behind
the line with several unsuccessful attempts
so far.
30th
min: NEWS - Pure frustration for the Dragons
coming so close to breaking the Penrith line
before throwing the ball over the sideline.
34th
min: TRY - Dragons
The Dragons finally get on the board busting
through the line and the try scoring machine
Nathan Blacklock diving under the posts without
a defender in sight. Matthew Head converts.
Panthers 24-6
35th
min: NEWS - That try from Nathan Blacklock
was his 100th for the St George-Illawara club
putting him amongst some of the great names
to don the Red V.
38th
min: TRY - Dragons
Buckle up folks as we have a contest on our
hands. Bailey of all players went through
a gap and put Hornby under the posts on the
inside. Head converts.
Panthers 24-12
40th
min: HALF TIME
It was an amazing start from the Panthers
finding holes everywhere in the Dragons line
and racking up four unanswered tries. The
Dragons however continued to attack and have
given use a proper contest with two quick
tries before the break.
Half Time Score - Panthers 24 Dragons 12
41st
min: We're 40 minutes away from one team safe
for another week and a very nervous couple
of days for the other as the second half gets
underway!
43rd
min: NEWS - Joel Clinton drops the ball cold
in his own half and gives the Dragons a great
early opportunity to cut the Panthers lead
even further.
45th
min: TRY - Panthers
Preston Campbell 10 metres out from his own
line intercepted a cut out ball from Trent
Barrett and had enough pace to see off Matt
Cooper and score. Girdler converts.
Panthers 30-12
50th
min: NEWS - Both sides are getting a tad sloppy
as neither is prepared to pull in the reins
and play a more traditional style of finals
football.
54th
min: TRY - Dragons
A great over the top pass from Matthew Head
gave Shaun Timmins an easy path to the line
to keep the Dragons in the match. Head converts.
Panthers 30-18
56th
min: NEWS - The Dragons have really lifted
their intensity on the back of that try knowing
they have to follow it up with another if
they are to be a genuine chance of winning.
60th
min: NEWS - The Dragons get a line drop out
and a great attacking chance and we go into
the final quarter of this match.
62nd
min: NEWS - The Panthers have just come up
with a crucial set of defence withstanding
all that the Dragons had to throw at them.
65th
min: NEWS - Strips, penalties and mistakes
have given the Dragons an amazing wave of
possession in the last five or so minutes
but it's coming to the crunch time where they
have to turn it into points.
67th
min: Try - Dragons
Pure determination gets the Dragons across
the line. Ryles ran to the line and fought
off three defenders before throwing one of
the best offloads you'll ever see to send
Thompson over to score. Matthew Head converts
and it's game on.
Panthers 30 Dragons 24
69th
min: NEWS - The Dragons pull off a huge play
with a huge kick into the in-goal and four
chasers were on hand to trap Rooney and force
a line drop out.
70th
min: NEWS - Ben Creagh loses the ball on attack
and the whole of Penrith breathes a big sigh
of relief.
72nd
min: NEWS - The Panthers have passed up their
first opportunity for a field goal with Gower
preferring to grubber into the in-goal on
the fourth tackle.
76th
min: FIELD GOAL - Panthers
On the last tackle about 35 metres out from
the posts Craig Gower took a shot and hit
it sweetly to give the Panthers an almost
unbeatable lead.
Panthers 31-24
78th
min: TRY - Dragons
Matthew Head ran to the line and put a ball
over the top to send Dean Young over. Matthew
Head converts very quickly.
Panthers 31-30
80th
min: NEWS - A penalty against the Dragons
with seconds to go will give Penrith victory
by the narrowest of margins.
80th
min: FULL TIME
One of the most exciting finals matches you
will ever witness. The Dragons clawed their
way back in this second half but were never
quite close enough and ultimately Craig Gower's
field goal sealed victory for Penrith.
Full Time Score - Panthers 31 Dragons 30
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Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - T Waterhouse (Panthers)
2 - M Lang (Panthers)
1 - M Head (Dragons)
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