Penrith punish rusty Roosters
16 hours ago | Aidan Edgecomb
A lateĀ field-goal by former Panther Lachlan Coote has seen the North Queensland Cowboys run out 23-18 winners at Pepper Stadium in front of 13,725 fans.
In a gripping game of rugby league, Coote's field-goal seven minutes from fulltime proved to be a decisive play, as the reigning premiers came from behind to secure their sixth win from their past seven meetings with Penrith.
After an evenly contested opening, the Panthers struck the first blow in the 7th minute when Bryce Cartwright latched onto a loose Cowboys grubber, before sprinting downfield and linking up with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, who crossed for his first try of the season.
Minutes late the Penrith flyer was over again following a cut-out pass by Cartwright, that allowed the home side to take a 10-0 advantage inside the opening quarter.
Needing to stop the Panthers early onslaught, the Cowboys muscled up in defence to prevent Josh Mansour from scoring. Moments later the visitors came up with points of their own, as Javid Bowen sliced through the Penrith defence.
With the home side giving away several penalties on their own line, the pressure finally tolled five minutes before the break Coote set up centre Justin O'Neill out wide. With Thurston adding the extras, the visitors took a 12-10 lead into the change of ends.
In a replica of the first half, both sides traded blows after halftime before Trent Merrin crashed over in the 53rd minutes following sustained pressure and ill discipline from the Cowboys.
Adding a penalty goal with a quarter of the match remaining, the Panthers established a six-point lead that appeared to give the home side the ascendancy. However, strong work by Jake Granville and Jason Taumalolo ensured a tight finish.
Hitting back with a try through Gavin Cooper with 15 minutes left on the clock, the Cowboys appeared to regain the ascendancy as Thurston leveled the scores at 18-all.
Having denied Taumalolo by stripping the ball over the line, the Panthers were left to lick their wound as Coote stepped up to push the visitors ahead courtesy of a left-foot one-pointer.
Needing to respond, Soward launched a shot at field-goal from 45 metres out, only to see the kick fade right in what would prove to be the home sides last chance of the night.
From the restart, a bust down the right allowed Kyle Feldt to cross out wide to give the Cowboys a 23-18 win in a tightly fought contest.
With the game on the line, the work of Jake Granville and Jason Taumalolo helped the Cowboys come away with the two points, while Lachlan Coote's involvement with two try-assists and the decisive field-goal also deserves attention.
For the home side, a strong effort across the park saw the Panthers push the reigning premiers right to the end, but unlike last week they were unable to conjure a last second victory.
Next week the Panthers tackle the resurgent Sydney Roosters on Monday night at Allianz Stadium, while the Cowboys return to Townsville on Friday to battle South Sydney.
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