Round 7
Penrith Panthers 18 l. Canberra Raiders 34

2007 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Raiders win away from home toppling fumbling Panthers
Sun April 29, 2007
Penrith have slumped to their 4th successive loss as the Raiders won their first match on the road emerging 34-18 winners in a match marred by errors and more errors.

The Panthers completed just 20 of their 40 sets in attack and at one stage in the second half had just completed 6 from 16 and with those stats there was only going to be one winner and in Penrith's case one loser. The handling problems were also compounded by the Panthers conceding eight successive penalties and their relationship with match officials has now reached an all-time low. Penrith coach Matthew Elliott in recent times has asked for an explanation about the refereeing issues dogging the Panthers and the problems only rose last night.

It all started good for Penrith with Luke Lewis scoring in the 4th minute and with Michael Gordon converting the Panthers led 6-0.

Canberra scored three unanswered tries through Brett Kelly (18th minute), Alan Tongue (22nd) and William Zillman (34th) to lead 16-6 with Michael Dobson converting the Kelly and Tongue tries.

Rhys Wesser got the Panthers right back into the contest with a try two minutes from the break and Gordon's conversion brought Penrith within four points.

Whichever side held the ball in the second half would win the match and it was Canberra who had the most respect for possession.

Both sides had tries disallowed, but the tries awarded to Tom Learoyd-Lahrs and Neville Costigan in the 51st and 65th minutes would be of most concern to Elliott. Both were clear cut tries, but the way they were scored with soft efforts from dummy half summed up the Panthers night and season to date. Lincoln Withers scored in the 70th minute chasing through a grubber kick and Dobson added the extras for the three tries to push Canberra well clear at 34-12.

Michael Jennings scored a late try in the final moments when replays showed he was off side chasing the kick with referee Gavin Badger not going upstairs to have a look. Gordon converted as the Panthers went down 34-18.

The Raiders have won two Monday night matches at Canberra Stadium and have been ordinary on the road this season closing by big margins on all three occasions. What was more impressive was that talented five-eighth Todd Carney missed the clash and the Green Machine still scored six tries and won convincingly.

Panthers coach Elliott after the match said, "I need to take a close look at the direction I'm taking the team because the performances aren't really reinforcing that.

"The short assessment is that they beat us because they tried harder. That's disappointing. Winning and losing, I understand that's part of the game. Sometimes you can be disappointed when you win - I'm looking forward to that feeling."

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