22 point haul for Gordon as Penrith dominate Canterbury

A 22 point haul by Michael Gordon has helped Penrith defeat the Bulldogs tonight in front of 11,278 fans.

Penrith welcomed back veteran forward Frank Puleta and they also got the try through Grant who pounced on a high bomb from Walsh. Michael Gordon opened his account with the conversion. Canterbury hit back with Yileen Gordon who put in a nice kick for Steve Turner to open their account.

It was the Michael Gordon show for the rest of the half with the winger scoring twice, once off his own chip kick and stealing the ball from David Stagg but the second was much easier off a backline movement and two conversions sent the Panthers to halftime leading 18-4.

The second half started where the first ended with a Penrith try, this time captain Shane Elford pouncing on another bomb by Penrith. Canterbury gained some momentum from some Penrith dropped ball and almost had their second to representative centre Josh Morris but it was disallowed after he dropped the ball.

Andrew Ryan didn't make any mistakes though, making a nice run to score Canterbury's second.

Canterbury tried to play catch-up football but a loose pass on last, swooped on Jennings who almost ran the length of the field but he was rounded up by Josh Morris and passed it to LeagueUnlimited's Man of the Match Michael Gordon to score his third and seal the game for Penrith.

A rare penalty in a well officated game, gave Yileen Gordon an opportunity for a run down the sideline and passing it onto Shane Neumann to score his first in the blue and white. Luke Walsh potted a cheeky field goal to finish a nice win at home for Penrith 31-16.

Match Details
Penrith Panthers 31 defeated Canterbury Bulldogs 16
National Rugby League - NRL - Round 11 - Monday May 24, 2010 7:00pm
Venue: CUA Stadium
Referee: Ben Cummins and Matt Cecchin
Video Referee: Tim Mander
Touch Judges: Chris James and Luke Potter
Crowd: 11,278
Halftime: Penrith Panthers 18 Canterbury Bulldogs 4

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Michael Gordon (3 Tries, 5 Conversions)
2 Points - Matthew Bell
1 Point - Yileen Gordon

PENRITH PANTHERS (31)
Tries: Michael Gordon (3), Tim Grant, Shane Elford
Field Goals: Luke Walsh (1/1)
Conversions: Michael Gordon (5/5)

CANTERBURY BULLDOGS (16)
Tries: Andrew Ryan, Steve Turner, Shane Neumann
Conversions: Bryson Goodwin (2/3)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Welcome to a chilly CUA Stadium for tonight's clash between Penrith and Canterbury Bankstown. Earlier in the u20's Canterbury ran out convincing winners 40-16.
One change for Penrith with Frank Puleta coming into the starting side, with Bell to the Bench and Paulo drops off. Bulldogs have swapped Micky Paea and Chris Armit, with the former starting.
1 min: Lachlan Coote will kick off at home, giving the Dogs first use of the ball.
5 min: Kevin Kingston concedes the first penalty of the game, giving the Bulldogs a great attacking opportunity.
6 min: Frank Puleta in his return forces an error from Barba in Penrith's 20.
10 min: TRY
Tim Grant scores off a Walsh kick which rebounds off some Bulldogs feet and Grant scoops it up and scores! Michael Gordon keeps the simple conversion.
Penrith Panthers 6-0
11 min: Kevin Kingston makes a slicing run through the Dogs defence and gets his side a penalty.
17 min: Both sides in an arm wrestle for domination at the moment.
19 min: Canterbury gets their second penalty after catching the Penrith markers offside.
20 min: Repeat set for Canterbury after Coote collides with Purtell but Warburton unable to recover.
22 min: Possible try to Josh Morris...
22 min: No try as Josh Morris' feet hit the line before he put the ball down.
23 min: Luke Walsh gives a bad pass to Mckendry who spills his lollies right near the halfway.
27 min: Luke Walsh knocks a Barba pass backwards to stop the offload, which is having some success for him.
29 min: Yileen Gordon got hit with a nice shot and loses it cold, poor ball control.
31 min: Possible try here off a magical Gordon kick for Turner.
33 min: TRY
Steve Turner opens the Bulldog's account after a nice kick from secondrower Gordon. Goodwin misses the kick from out wide.
Penrith Panthers 6-4
35 min: Michael Gordon may have scored Penrith's second try.
36 min: TRY
Luke Walsh hoists it high for the thousanth time tonight and it's tapped back to Gordon who chip kick's for himself to score under the posts. Michael Gordon converts his own try.
Penrith Panthers 12-4
38 min: Andrew Ryan tries to force the pass and drops it into waiting hands of the Panthers.
39 min: Bulldogs drop it on the first hit up, giving Penrith a final chance for points.
40 min: TRY
Michael Gordon is in again right on halftime! A nice backline movement with Jennings throwing the last pass. Gordon kicks the conversion and it's halftime.
Penrith Panthers 18-4
41 min: Bryson Goodwin gets the second half going.
43 min: Penrith get a repeat set off a nice grubber.
45 min: Adrian Purtell is taken over the sideline, wasting the set of six.
47 min: Penrith could have their fourth try here..
48 min: TRY
The captain has a goal, after a pin-point kick from Walsh is touched by Turner and swamped on by Elford. Gordon continues a perfect night, kicking another goal.
Penrith Panthers 24-4
49 min: A bad error from Nathan Smith in Penrith's own half gives the Bulldogs a chance to get back into the game.
50 min: Six again to Canterbury as Barba sparks some magic and almost scores!
51 min: Another set for Canterbury after it's knocked down from Penrith.
53 min: Josh Morris could have the Bulldogs second here..
53 min: NO TRY! Josh Morris drops the ball just before the line.
54 min: Penrith launch another bomb but it's unsuccessful this time.
56 min: Mike Bell with a sloppy play the ball lets the dogs off the hook.
57 min: The game is degenerating with some drop ball in the last few sets.
58 min: Bryson Goodwin takes a screamer to take the ball out to the 20, followed up with a penalty and Michael Jennings being marched ten.
61 min: TRY
A nice line being run by Ryan coupled with a step beats some lazy markers and scores! Goodwin converts his first for the evening.
Penrith Panthers 24-10
62 min: Bulldogs run it on the fifth but it goes over the sideline and Penrith will work it out.
65 min: A forward pass cruels Jennings of a nice try but the offload from Coote with forward.
66 min: Chris Armit with a nice run after a Halatau offload gives the Bulldogs a repeat set.
68 min: Michael Gordon could have a hat-trick here but of course we have to check with the Video Referee.
69 min: TRY
The Bulldogs try to keep it alive on fifth and it's pounced on by Jennings who is rounded up by Morris but he gets the pass away for Michael Gordon to score his hat-trick. Michael Gordon has 5/5 with this successful conversion.
Penrith Panthers 30-10
70 min: Adrian Purtell touches a short kick-off from the Bulldogs to give them a set inside Penrith's half.
70 min: Blake Green runs another nice line but forces a pass to Halatau which is dropped.
73 min: Some nice shots being put on in defense here with Gavin Cooper stripping it one on one but Gordon drops a nice offload from Jennings.
74 min: A two man strip gives Canterbury their fourth penalty of the night in a 5-1 penalty count!
75 min: TRY
Yileen Gordon with a nice run gets close but offloads to Neumann to score his first try for the Bulldogs. Goodwin kicks the conversion!
Penrith Panthers 30-16
78 min: FIELD GOAL
Luke Walsh pots an easy field goal to make the advantage 15.
Penrith Panthers 31-16
80 min: Penrith get the final set of the game after a knock on.
80 min: Or not with Gavin Cooper dropping the ball with 30 seconds to go.
80 min: Barba tries a chip kick for himself but Walsh is back there and throws it over the sideline to end a comfortable victory for Penrith.