Sunday 28th May at Penrith Stadium
Penrith 48 – Tries: Gall (2), Girdler (2), M. Adamson (1), P. Adamson (1), Edwards (1), Pethybridge (1); Goals: Girdler (8) | Gold Coast Seagulls 24
More: themightypanthers.com/match0653.htm
The Seagulls posted the first points to lead 6-0 before the Panthers responded when Steve Carter ran the ball down the blind side on the fifth tackle, and found Scott Pethybridge in support on the right wing, jinking back inside and managing to ground the ball over the line. Ryan Girdler nailed the conversion from near the sideline to lock it up at 6-all.
The visitors regained the lead soon after with a converted try to make it 12-6.
A penalty conversion from Girdler narrowed it to a four point deficit.
On the stroke of half time, Phil Adamson charged on to a pass from Brett Boyd at close range to touch down under the uprights, with Girdler’s conversion giving the Panthers a 14-12 lead at the break.
The Panthers were first to score in the second half when a Gary Freeman bomb from 20 metres out was not cleaned up by the Seagulls, with Girdler pouncing on the loose ball and crossing over adjacent to the left upright.
Up 20-12, the home team pushed further ahead when Jody Gall ran through a gap at close range to score, with Girdler’s fifth conversion from as many attempts making it 26-12.
However, the Gold Coast would score the next two tries to make it 26-20.
The Panthers would push the lead further out again when Gall stepped his way through some feeble defence 25 metres out and evaded the cover defence to score in the corner.
Soon after, Freeman ran the ball on the last, putting Pethybridge into a gap and then found Morvin Edwards in support on his inside through a well timed pass to send him away for a try to make it 36-20.
When Matt Adamson finished off an 80 metre run with a try, Penrith hit 40 points.
Whilst the Gold Coast posted the next try to make it 42-24, the Panthers had the final say when Girdler crossed for his second late in the contest, with his eighth conversion giving him a personal tally of 24 points in their 48-24 victory.
The Mighty Panthers 