Saturday 16th July at Centrebet Stadium
Penrith 23 – Tries: Coote (2), Simmons (2); Goals: Burns (3); Field goals: Walsh (1) | Parramatta 22
More: themightypanthers.com/match1047.htm
In the ninth minute, David Simmons juggled a Michael Jennings pass to touch down in the left corner, with Travis Burns’ sideline conversion making it 6-0 to the Panthers.
The Eels would post the next two tries to lead 12-6, before in the shadows of half time a Luke Walsh grubber was leapt on by Lachlan Coote in the in goal to tie it up at 12-all.
The visitors took the lead again in the second half to make it 16-12, but the hosts once again tied it up when a Coote tackle jolted the ball loose, and in the pick up then threw a large cut out pass to his left to find Simmons, who pinned the ears back and ran 20 metres to the slam the ball in the corner, despite attention from the covering defence. The conversion however was unsuccessful and remained 16-all with just under 20 minutes remaining.
Parramatta edged again to lead 22-16 inside the final 10 minutes, and with 15 seconds remaining, an Eels kick near the halfway line was charged down, with the ball rolling back towards their try line. From that play, Penrith were awarded a penalty with only seven seconds remaining.
With just one tackle up their sleeves, and the full time siren blowing, the Panthers from the McKendry play the ball 10 metres out threw the ball to their right. When it reached Brad Tighe on the right edge, he passed it back in field – the Panthers were keeping the ball alive but were also being pushed back towards the halfway line by the desperate Eels defence. The ball found Jennings, who ran 20 metres down the left edge, and realising no way through, cut back inside and stabbed a kick 5 metres out towards the left upright and winning the race for the ball was Coote. It got referred to the video referee, who found no illegal play. Burns kicked the easy conversion and it was tied at 22-all, with the match heading to golden point.
In the first period of golden point, the Eels had two shots at field goal that narrowly missed. In the second period, the Panthers received the ball and on the fourth tackle, Jennings combined with Simmons for a 40 metre burst down the left edge, with the Panthers in prime field goal range – on the last tackle, it was swung back in field to Walsh, who slotted a 20 metre field goal from in front to give the Panthers a heart stopping and come from behind 23-22 victory.
The Mighty Panthers 