WINS | [1998] Round 20: Penrith 26 Canterbury 18

Sunday 26th July at Penrith Stadium

Penrith 26 – Tries: M Adamson (1), Beckett (1), Cross (1), MacGillivray (1), Woods (1); Goals: Hicks (3) | Canterbury 18

More: themightypanthers.com/match0725.htm

In the fourth minute, Matt Adamson finished off a planned move from dummy half, with Chris Hicks’ conversion making it 6-0.

Nine minutes later the lead was doubled through a David Woods converted try and was quickly followed by a four pointer to Robbie Beckett to make it 16-0 after as nearly as many minutes.

The visitors fired back with two quick tries soon after to make it 16-12, but Penrith would have the final say of the first half when a Duncan MacGillivray try (converted by Hicks) made it 22-12 at the break.

Two minutes after the resumption, Canterbury further reduced the lead with a converted try to make it 22-18.

It was followed by a try soon after to John Cross, which remained the last score for the match, and were able to successfully repel a number of Bulldogs attacking raids throughout the second half to record a well-deserved win.

WINS | [2000] Round 2: Penrith 26 Bulldogs 0

Sunday 13th February at Stadium Australia

Penrith 26 – Tries: Beckett (1), Carter (1), Domic (1), Rodwell (1), Wesser (1); Goals: Girdler (3) | Bulldogs 0

More: themightypanthers.com/match0755.htm

A Rhys Wesser try in the 12th minute, which was converted by Ryan Girdler handed the visitors a 6-0 lead.

Six minutes before the half time break, this was further extended when a left side raid started by Steve Carter was also finished by him when he ran off a Girdler pass and got down low enough to power his way over the try line. Girdler’s conversion made it 12-0 at the break.

Eleven minutes after the resumption, Scott Sattler ran the ball on the fifth as he charged towards the line, and popped an offload to Matthew Rodwell who was in support and ran through an opening close to the line to score.

Two more tries later in the half to Robbie Beckett (64th) and Sid Domic (79th) completed a five tries to nil shut out of the Bulldogs.

WINS | [2003] Round 16: Penrith 28 Bulldogs 26

Sunday 28th June at Penrith Stadium

Penrith 28 – Tries: L Lewis (2), Elford (1), Rooney (1), Wesser (1); Goals: Girdler (4) | Bulldogs 26

More: themightypanthers.com/match0846.htm

In the 18th minute, Rhys Wesser ran the ball from dummy half about 25 metres from the Panthers line, spotted a defensive gap and burnt past the opposition fullback to complete a 75 metre run to score adjacent to the right uprights. Ryan Girdler converted to make it 6-0.

With eight minutes remaining, Preston Campbell stepped and weaved his way through to the right edge from mid field, passing it to Paul Whatuira and then Luke Lewis to the right wing, running past his opposite number and whilst he tripped, the no tackle was effected and continued running, then finding an unmarked Shane Elford to his left who ran 20 metres to score. Girdler’s extras made it 12-0.

However, the Bulldogs would run in two converted tries in the last five minutes to level it up at 12-all at half time.

Four minutes after the resumption, a penalty conversion drew them further ahead then scored another converted try soon after to lead 20-12.

In the 51st minute, Luke Rooney was over in the left corner after he picked up a Tony Puletua off load only centimetres off the ground. Girdler was unable to convert and the visitors still led by four.

Eleven minutes later, scores were level when Luke Priddis ran the short side off a set re-start, and then passed to Lewis who powered his way through the sliding cover defence only metres out to score. Girdler’s sideline conversion saw Penrith lead 22-20.

But the Bulldogs would regain the lead shortly after with a converted try to lead 26-22.

With ten minutes remaining, the home team once again tied it up when Craig Gower hoisted up a high cross field kick from 30 metres out, and Lewis on the run leapt up high, won the contest for the ball against his opposing winger and then kept on running to the try line. Girdler once again masterfully nailed a sideline conversion to once again regain the lead.

The Panthers were perhaps lucky to not concede a penalty with around 15 seconds remaining which may have potentially given the Bulldogs one last opportunity to at least force it to golden point, with the hosts holding on for a tense two point win.

PLAYERS | Mark Lyons

Panther 307

7 matches [1991-1992]

4 points [1 try] 

Stats: themightypanthers.com/players_lyons-mark.htm

Cambridge Park junior who was graded by Penrith in 1990, first appearing in the Preident’s Cup team. By 1991 he had graduated to the Reserve Grade side, alternating between the second and front rows.

In Round 8 of the 1991 Winfield Cup season, he made his first-grade debut, coming off the bench in the pulsating 8-0 win over North Sydney at Peneith Stadium. He would make three more appearances in the later rounds of the season (all off the bench), including a try in the 23-12 win over South Sydney. However, he would play a part in the Panthers maiden premiership triumph throughout September.

He would start the 1992 season in Reserve Grade, and would make three more first grade appearances (once again all off the bench) in 1992, making his final appearance for the Panthers in the Reserve Grade semi final.

In 1993, he joined South Sydney, making 19 first grade appearances across three seasons before leaving the Rabbitohs at the end of 1995.

In 2023 he passed away aged 51.

WINS | [1996] Round 10: Penrith 20 South Sydney 12

Sunday 2nd June at Penrith Stadium

Penrith 20 – Tries: Beckett (1), Casey (1), Williams (1); Goals: Girdler (4) | South Sydney 12

More: themightypanthers.com/match0673.htm

Souths were first to score with a converted try to make it 6-0 after seven minutes.

Penrith were on the scoreboard soon after when Garen Casey was there to take a spilled ball from the Rabbitohs off a bomb, with Ryan Girdler’s conversion making it 6-all. It remained the only points for the half.

The Panthers inched further ahead four minutes after the resumption with a penalty conversion off the boot of Girdler, which was soon countered by Souths.

The home team took the lead on the 60 minute mark when Matt Adamson soared high off a Gavin Clinch bomb, passing on to Morvin Edwards and then passed to Robbie Beckett who had enough space to evade the cover defence to score in the left corner.

With six minutes remaining, Jason Williams scooped up a loose pass only one metre from the line and ran 99 metres to score a counter attacking try. Girdler’s conversion made it a two converted try margin with six minutes remaining, with a Rabbitohs try soon after only reducing the winning margin.

WINS | [1998] Round 23: Penrith 36 South Sydney 18

Friday 14th August at Penrith Stadium

Penrith 36 – Tries: Cross (3), Elford (2), Domic (1), Woods (1); Goals: Hicks (4) | South Sydney 18

More: themightypanthers.com/match0728.htm

A Sid Domic try in the second half opened the scoring.

However Souths would run in the next two tries to lead 10-4 after 15 minutes.

But four minutes David Woods try converted by Chris Hicks locked it up at 10 apiece.

The Rabbitohs would once again take the lead with an unconverted try, but it would be the hosts with a two point lead at half time when John Cross scored with four minutes left.

John Cross would score two of the four unanswered tries in the second half (51st and 71st, alongside a double also to Shane Elford in the 54th and 74th minutes) to push it out to 36-14, before a late consolation try to the visitors finished the scoring.

WINS | [1995] Round 14: Penrith 40 North Queensland 10

Saturday 1st July at Penrith Stadium

Penrith 40 – Tries: Sing (2), Afoa (1), Boyd (1), Brown (1), Cartwright (1), Edwards (1), Girdler (1); Goals: Girdler (4) | North Queensland 10

More: themightypanthers.com/match0656.htm

An unconverted try to Ryan Girdler after only three minutes gave the hosts a 4-0 lead.

Two penalty conversions locked it up at 4-all after 18 minutes, however, two tries in a three minute period, firstly John Cartwright and then Darren Brown saw the Panthers lead 14-4 at half time.

Four tries in a 14 minute period – Matt Sing (50th and 55th), Brett Boyd (59th) and Fa’ausu Afoa (59th minute) blew open the contest with the Panthers leading 34-4.

The Cowboys finally crossed for the first try with six minutes remaining, but the Panthers had the final say with a Morvin Edwards try with only two minutes remaining to complete a first up big win against North Queensland.

WINS | [1996] Round 14: Penrith 21 North Queensland 0

Saturday 6th July at Stockland Stadium

Penrith 21 – Tries: P Adamson (1), Beckett (1), Thompson (1); Goals: Girdler (4); Field goals: Carter (1) | North Queensland 0

More: themightypanthers.com/match0677.htm

A converted try to Robbie Beckett in the 22nd minute was the only points in the first half, with the visitors leading 6-0 at the break.

Ten minutes after the resumption, a try to Bobby Thompson which was converted by Ryan Girdler pushed it out to 12-0.

In the 61st minute, Phil Adamson was in, which was once again converted to make it 18-0.

Four minutes later, a Steve Carter field goal made it a greater than three converted try margin, and a penalty conversion off the boot of Girdler with six minutes remaining completed a defensive shut out of the Cowboys.

WINS | [2001] Round 25: Penrith 44 Wests 10

Saturday 25th August at Penrith Stadium

Penrith 44 – Tries: Carter (2), M Adamson (1), Atkinson (1), Beckett (1), Gower (1), T Puletua (1), Woods (1); Goals: Girdler (5), Carter (1) | Wests Tigers 10

More: themightypanthers.com/match0806.htm

The Panthers were first in with a Matt Adamson try in the eighth minute to make it 4-0.

Three more tries (David Woods in the 10th minute, Robbie Beckett in the 21st minute and Craig Gower in the 34th minute), which were all converted by Ryan Girdler gave the Panthers a 22-0 lead at half time.

This was pushed out to 28-0 shortly after the resumption with a converted try to Steve Carter.

The Tigers finally got on to the score board with a converted try in the 55th minute to make it 26-6, but another three straight tries pushed it out to 44-6 (Brett Atkinson in the 59th minute, Tony Puletua in the 65th minute and Carter in the 72nd minute).

A Wests Tigers try with two minutes remaining finished the scoring.

WINS | [2002] Round 14: Penrith 22 Wests Tigers 18

Saturday 15th June at Leichhardt Oval

Penrith 22 – Tries: Bell (2), Elford (1), Galuvao (1), Lewis (1); Goals: Young (1) | Wests Tigers 18

More: themightypanthers.com/match0820.htm

The visitors struck first points with an unconverted Shane Elford try in the fifth minute.

This was counterted by a penalty conversion to the Tigers, but soon after the Panthers were in for their second with a try to Joe Galuvao that was converted by Luke Young to make it 10-2.

An unconverted Tigers try reduced the margin to four points, but the Panthers closed out the half with two tries in the final 10 minute period to Luke Lewis and Geoff Bell to make it 18-6 at half time.

Two converted tries to the Tigers made it 18-all with six minutes remaining.

In the inevitable field goal shoot out, both teams were unsuccessful to break the deadlock, and with only seconds remaining, Geoff Bell broke the deadlock with his second try which the ultimate match winner.