Semi Finals
Penrith Panthers 50 d. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 6

2006 NSWRL Harold Matthews (U/16) Index [Table] [Draw]

Location: Australia > New South Wales > Junior Representative Competition: NSWRL Harold Matthews (U/16)

Panthers into Harold Matthews & SG Ball Grand Finals
Sun May 7, 2006
In a stunning day for the Penrith Panthers RLFC, both of its NSWRL junior representative teams have qualified for their respective Grand Finals after victories at The Western Weekender Stadium in St Marys.

The Harold Matthews Cup team, coached by Alex Melville, were the first to qualify, with a 50-6 drubbing of Manly. SG Ball won through with a 26-18 victory over arch-rivals Parramatta.

The young Harold Matts Panthers started strongly, racing to an early 12-0 lead, with an AFL-like grab by winger Matthew Wright being the highlight of the early tries.

Another try to centre Gavin Taylor extended the lead to 18-0 before Manly scored in the shadows of halftime to reduce the scoreline to 18-6.

After the break, the young Panthers took up where they left off. Tries within the space of seven minutes to fullback Lachlan Coote and winger Matthew Wright effectively ended the game as a contest, with the boys establishing a 28-6 lead.

Over the next fifteen minutes, the team piled on four more tries to finish the game with the 50-6 scoreline. Matthew Wright received Players' Player.

Melville was glowing in praise for his players after the game:

"This is a very mature, hungry group. Their attention to detail in their weekly preparation, training and on game day is what makes a performance like this possible.

"There were many fine performances today, not least of which was the team."

The Panthers will now meet the Bulldogs in next Saturday's Grand Final at the Western Weekender Stadium, St Marys, with the Bulldogs comfortably defeating Illawarra 34-20 in he tougher of the semi final fixtures.

Melville is well aware that the Bulldogs will present a wholly different challenge next Saturday:

"They are the Minor Premiers and the only undefeated team in the Harold Matts competition. They are very well coached. Five-eighth Brad Murray has all the skills of a future International and second rower Martin Taupau has an uncanny Sonny Bill-like offloading ability. All things being equal, a number of their players could easily progress to NRL ranks over the coming seasons.

"We'll prepare well this week and control the things that we can control."

The Young Panthers take on the Bulldogs next Saturday in Harold Matts at 12 Noon and the Rabbitohs in SG Ball at 2pm at The Western Weekender Stadium in St Marys. It would be great to get as many supporters there as possible to bring home the premiership double.

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