Purring Panthers pounce late to claim a strong victory

v BYE

A fast-finishing Panthers side scored three tries in the final 20 minutes in Christchurch to claim their first double-digit win of the year, 30-18 over the Warriors in front of a capacity 18,000 crowd.

The Christchurch clash kicked off in testing, windy conditions - but who would have known? Solomone Kata would crash over early for the Warriors, with both sides playing entertaining footy in trying weather.

It didn't take long for Penrith to respond. A great kick from Jamie Soward was backed up with a massive defensive effort, with Shaun Johnson driven towards the goalline. The Warriors halfback threw a ‘hail Mary' in his own in-goal and Soward was able to pounce, scoring to lock things up at 6-all. A penalty would later give Penrith an 8-6 lead, before Tyrone Peachey punched through the Warriors' line for a 14-6 lead.

But, on the back of a lucky six-again call, the Warriors would dominate the next 10 minutes. Jonathan Wright crossed in the corner, before a typical Johnson step would end in a great team try for the Warriors, finished by Blake Ayshford. Penrith then regained some possession in last 10, with Suaia Matagi almost crashing over.

In what was an enterprising first half full of attacking brilliance, the Warriors took a 4 point lead into break and would run into the wind in the second forty.

The second half opened in similar circumstances with the Warriors looking the most likely of the two in the opening stages. The Panthers looked a tad clunky in attack to open, but began to warm into the game only to invite the Warriors back into it with a couple of errors and penalties. The Warriors looked certainties, but Penrith's defence stood tall and Isaah Yeo would pull off a massive try saver on Tuimoala Lolohea.

This try saver came just after Penrith took a slender 2 point lead with Matt Moylan setting up Tyrone Peachey again. Yet again, it looked like Penrith would have to contend with another nail biter.

Then, out of nowhere, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak flew over in the corner, but Jamie Soward missed for the first time this afternoon and Penrith would go into the final five minutes with a 6 point lead. All nerves associated with the final 5 minutes for the Panthers reappeared when the Warriors regained the ball off the kick off. But in the end, a Dallin Watene-Zelezniak intercept eventually saw Penrith capitalise and Tyrone Peachey capped off a big night with a hat trick.

In the end Penrith would claim an unfamiliar victory by more than their average winning margin of two points, however the Warriors can be proud of their efforts, with the New Zealand side only falling away when they needed to defend most. Props for this one must go to Johnson and Soward, who, in windy conditions nailed almost all of their conversions bar 1 from Soward.

For the Panthers, they will look to make it three wins in a row going into the bye, as they return to their real home at Penrith against the Gold Coast Titans next weekend. The Warriors meanwhile will look to bounce back against the Raiders, who are coming off a last gasp loss, when they head to the Taranaki region, where they'll host Canberra at Yarrow Stadium next Saturday night.