Penrith punish rusty Roosters
13 hours ago | Aidan Edgecomb
It was a tough afternoon at Pepper Stadium for the NYC side with the Panthers running out 46-6 winners over the pups.
It was eight tries to one at the end of 80 minutes with the blue and whites unable to ever get into the match.
There was just one change to the side named earlier in the week with winger Isaac Pedro being ruled out and Jerry Leasi the man to come into the starting side. Avia Minute was brought into the 17 after originally being named as 18th man.
It was a tough opening 20 minutes for the young pups with three tries being run in by the home side. Winger Ratu Tuisese opened the scoring in the fifth minute before centre Brandon Burns bagged a double within four minutes. Two of the three tries were converted by halfback Nathan Cleary, with the scoreboard reading 16-nil.
The following 20 minutes didn't fare any better for the pups with a further two tries being scored before the half-time siren sounded. Fullback Dylan Edwards scored off a beautifully put on play by Cleary and then lock forward Tyrone May capitalised on a Bulldogs error to cruise over under the posts. Cleary converted both tries to put the home side up 28-nil at the 40 minute mark.
The second half started in similar fashion to the first with the Panthers crossing for two tries in the first 15 minutes of the half. The first of those was a dart out of dummy-half and the tip on was given to Edwards who ran 60m untouched to score. Edwards bagged his hat-trick four minutes later when he cruised through a huge gap left by centre Kiko Manu. Cleary converted both tries with the lead now 40-nil.
Lock forward May got his second for the day soon after with what looked to be another soft try. Cleary definitely had his kicking boots packed, converting his seventh try of eight attempts to leave the scoreboard at 46-nil.
There was a short period for the pups to celebrate when they crossed for a four-pointer of their own in the 70th minute through lock forward Siaopo Tagaloa. He took a short ball off Darcy Maroske and barged past one defender and then over to score. Zac Greene converted to put a little bit of respect on to the scoreboard, 46-6.
That's how it stayed for the final 10 minutes with the Panthers registering their first win of the season.
PANTHERS 46 (Edwards 3, Burns 2, May 2, Tuisese Tries; Cleary 7 Goals)
Def.
BULLDOGS 6 (Tagaloa Try; Greene 1 Goal)
At: Pepper Stadium
Story with thanks to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs - bulldogs.com.au