Panthers scamper home against Dragons in extra time
Written by: Matt Starkey
19/03/2006

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Round 2
Penrith Panthers 13 def St George Illawarra 12

Match summary:

The Penrith Panthers have recorded their second victory of the season with a one-point win over perennial slow-starters St George Illawarra in extra time by 13-12.

Preston Campbell was the villain turned hero after he snapped a field goal in the 84th minute to get the Panthers home after he struggled throughout the match to find form. The match, played in hot conditions, was punctuated by 22 penalties and a mountain of handling errors. Frank Puletua and Ben Hornby were each sin-binned throughout the clash, with Puletua’s somewhat controversial considering it was for a high shot on Dragons lock Andrew Price shortly before halftime. Price left the field heavily concussed and failed to return.

At halftime the scores were locked at 2-all following both sides’ inability to turn possession into tries, with Gorrell and Campbell each kicking a penalty goal.

The second half was a little different as man of the match Craig Gower came into his own. The Penrith playmaker laid on a try for captain Tony Puletua in the 47th minute and another for fullback Rhys Wesser 15 minutes later as the Panthers began to take control of the match and pushed their lead out to 12-2.

The Dragon’s suffered a further blow midway through the second half as Australian prop Luke Bailey left the field with a knee injury. The home side rallied however and a try to Reece Simmonds out wide in the 72nd minute saw the scores at 12-6 and setup a tense final few minutes.

St George Illawarra didn’t disappoint as the previously dour struggle turned rather exciting with hooker Gorrell putting Ashton Sims over next to the posts. With the successful conversion, the Dragons pushed the game into extra time.

The Panthers started the third period on fire and were looking the goods early with Tony Puletua denied a try in the 83rd minute. From the ensuing play Campbell snapped the ball between the sticks and sunk the Dragons hopes of pulling the game out of the fire.

The Panthers now head into the bye with 2 wins from 2 starts, defying critics of the club who had them in the reckoning for the wooden spoon. Ironically, premiership favourites the Dragons continue to slide down the ladder and face the Rabbitohs next week at Telstra Stadium.

Scorers:

St George Illawarra Dragons: 12
Tries: Reece Simmonds, Ashton Sims
Goals: Aaron Gorell 2/3

Penrith Panthers: 13
Tries: Tony Puletua, Rhys Wesser
Goals: Preston Campbell 2/3
Field Goals: Preston Campbell

WIN Stadium
Crowd: 12,098
Referee: Shayne Hayne

Live commentary:

Nice and warm day down in picturesque Wollongong. The Dragons will run with the wind in the first half, as Ryles leads the team out in his 100th game. Penrith will kick-off through Preston Campbell.

And we're underway in the first half!

5 min: NEWS Both teams sorting each other out in the early stages here, with the Dragons going close to scoring through Gorrell and Greenshields.

7 min: NEWS Handling errors from both sides marring the contest in the early stages.

15 min: NEWS Gower held-up in goal. Penrith receive a penalty 10m out from the Dragons line and continue to press their defence.

22 min: NEWS Another try disallowed by the video referee, with the Danny Galea having no luck from the man upstairs.

25 min: NEWS Still no score here at WIN Stadium. Both teams really into the contest now.

30 min: NEWS A Dragons raid ends in misery with handling errors and poor options costing them.

35 min: NEWS Frank Puletua in the bin and on report for a high shot after a string of sloppy plays. Andrew Price for the Dragons taken from the field.

38 min: PENALTY GOAL St George Illawarra Dragons
Following on from the high shot, Gorrell slots a penalty and finally opens the scoring for the day.
Dragons 2-0

39 min: PENALTY GOAL Penrith Panthers
A penalty to the Panthers sees them level the scores with a return penalty goal.
2 all.

40 min: NEWS Halftime: Both sides playing very scrappy football. The Panthers have had the majority of possession but have been unable to score any tries. Obviously the heat is playing a big part in the proceedings. The real talking point has been Puletua's sin-binning for foul play. It's anyone's game from here, but if possession evens up you'd have to think the Dragons would be a chance.

41 min: And we're underway in the second half!

43 min: NEWS Hornby in the bin for a professional foul. Andrew Price is heavily concussed.

47 min: TRY Penrith Panthers
With the Dragons down to 12 men, Gower jinks and dummies before giving a pass to Tony Puletua who scores. Conversion unsuccessful.
Panthers 6-2

53 min: NEWS Hornby back on the field.

55 min: NEWS Bailey has left the field with a knee injury.

62 min: TRY Penrith Panthers
Craig Gower again takes control of the game and finds Wesser running into a yawning gap. The Dragons are out on their feet. Campbell converts.
Panthers 12-2

70 min: NEWS Ten to go and the signs are pretty positive for the Panthers. They're playing much better footy now and starting to create opportunities.

72 min: TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
Reece Simmonds scores in the corner after getting on the end of a Dean Young cut-out pass. Gorrell fails to convert from the sideline.
Panthers 12-6

78 min: TRY St George Illawarra Dragons
Young hooker George Ndaira finds some room and puts Ashton Sims over next to the post. Gorrell converts to lock up the game.
12 all

80 min: NEWS We've gone into extra time here at WIN Stadium, where the Dragons are making a late charge for their first premiership points.

84 min: FIELD GOAL Penrith Panthers
Preston Campbell snaps a field goal to sink the Dragons and claim the points for the Panthers.
Panthers 13-12
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Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Craig Gower (Panthers)
2 - Preston Campbell (Panthers)
1 - Aaron Gorrell (Dragons)
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