Bulldogs' bite back to beat Panthers

THE Canterbury Bulldogs have produced an impressive come from behind victory to defeat the Penrith Panthers 22-14 in front of a 9585 at Centre Bet Stadium this evening.

The Bulldogs absorbed a plethora of assaults on their try line as the Panthers struggled to execute their plays in their oppositions' danger zone.

It was all the Panthers early in the match as they dominated field position and position as they dominated the Bulldogs all over the park.

A plethora of unforced errors and penalties from the Bulldogs saw the Panthers handed several opportunities early in the match. The home side finally capitalised on their possession in the 13th minute when Travis Burns opened the scoring.

The Panthers were over again only four minutes later when Michael Jennings scored off his own chip kick following back to back penalties against the Bulldogs.

Despite continuing to dominate both possession and field position the Panthers failed to extend their lead as poor communication close to the line saw their attack unravel.

It was the Bulldogs who battled the odds to score in 32nd minute on the back of a 50 metre break from winger Steve Turner put his side in prime position. Josh Reynolds produced some fancy footwork in the next set to slice through the Panthers' line before offloading to Joel Romello to score.

The Bulldogs levelled the score early in the second half with Ben Barba scoring in the 46th minutes courtesy of a clever dummy from James Graham.

As the half progressed, the Panthers took control, once again dominating possession and field possession. The home side reclaimed the lead with a penalty kick in the 57^th minute, but failed to capitalise on their possession any further.

The Bulldogs had no problem capitalising on their field possession when given the opportunity, stealing the lead in the 72^nd minute through Josh Morris.

The Panthers were given an opportunity to hit back right away after the kick off was allowed to go dead, however once again the home side failed to successfully execute their plays at the opposition try line.

Bryson Goodwin put the final nail in the Panthers' coffin in the 79^th minute, scoring on the back of a Michael Ennis grubber.

His side's poor execution will not be the only thing causing new coach Ivan Cleary headaches this weekend, star winger Michael Gordon sustained a broken leg in the first half and is likely to be sidelined for several weeks.

Match Details

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Frank Pritchard
2 Points - Luke Lewis
1 Point - Michael Ennis

PENRITH PANTHERS (14)
Tries: Travis Burns, Michael Jennings
Conversions: Michael Gordon (2/2)
Penalty Goals: Luke Walsh (1/1)

CANTERBURY BULLDOGS (22)
Tries: Ben Barba, Josh Morris, Bryson Goodwin, Josh Reynolds
Conversions: Steve Turner (3/4)

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Good evening folks and welcome to Centrebet Stadium where the Penrith Panthers take on the Canterbury Bulldogs. With new coaches taking the reins at both clubs tonight's match should provide interesting foresight about what each side has to offer in 2012.
We have miserable conditions in Penrith at the moment where the Panthers Under 20s' side has defeated the Bulldogs 19-12 in the Toyota Cup.
The home side has announced one late change to their 17 named on Tuesday night, Blake Austin will come onto the bench for Nafe Seluni. Des Hasler has announced no late changes to his side.
1 min: Luke Walsh kicks off and the match is underway.
1 min: Penrith have been penalised for a hand on the ball in the first tackle and the Bulldogs will get a piggyback up the field.
2 min: Pritchard loses the ball in a crunching tackle from Luke Lewis.
2 min: Penrith get a penalty on halfway.
3 min: Travis Burns grubbers on the third tackle from ten out but puts too much on it and it goes dead.
4 min: Bulldogs get a penalty ten short of halfway and will have an opportunity to go on the attack.
5 min: A poor pass from Ben Barba goes loose and the Panthers come up with it. Penrith are then given a penalty and will start a set in the Bulldogs' half.
6 min: Walsh goes high and Smith is there to take the ball for the Panthers but loses it within a metre of the line.
7 min: Bulldogs finish their set ten metres into the Penrith half. But a poor kick goes straight down the throat of Coote.
8 min: Luke Wlsh finds touch 10 out from the Bulldogs' line on the last and the Dogs will run it out of their half.
10 min: The Panthers will get a scrum 30 out from the Bulldogs' line after David Stagg knocks on on the last. The Panthers were able to keep the Bulldogs in their own 30 after 5 tackles with some god defence.
11 min: Luke Walsh kicks it from 20 out on the last the ball goes only ten metre but the Panthers are able to regain posession, Coote grubbers the ball again but it is cleaned up by the Dogs but a penalty is found in back play and the Panthers will get a set from ten out.
14 min: TRY
Panthers TRY! John Morris attempts an intercept 10 out after Walsh throws a terrible pass to the ground, Morris knocks on and Travis Burns is there to collect the ball and scores the opening try of the match. Gordon has no trouble converting the try.
Penrith Panthers 6-0
15 min: Dean Halatau is penalised for a high shot and the Panthers will get another piggyback up the field.
16 min: The Panthers get another penalty this time it's 20 out from the Dogs' line.
17 min: Possible try to the Panthers here.
18 min: TRY
Try! Walsh goes to the air on the last and Burns catches the ball a metre out he passes it back to Jennings who grubbers the ball through and scores. Gordon has no problem converting from right in front.
Penrith Panthers 12-0
19 min: Walsh kicks the ball on the last on halfway and Ennis charges the ball down, the Panthers are able to regain the ball but Ennis is ruled to have not played at the ball.
20 min: The Bulldogs lose the ball on the first tackle.
21 min: Luke Lewis is penalised for not getting off a tackled player and the Dogs will go on the attack.
22 min: Luke Walsh is trapped in his own in goal and the Bulldogs will get a line dropout.
24 min: Barba Loses the ball again and Gordon pounces on the loose ball and makes it to the 40 before being reeled in by Josh Morris. The Bulldogs concede a penalty to give the Panthers some bonus metres.
25 min: Luke Walsh is caught with the ball on the last tackle only a metre out and the Bulldogs are off the hook.
26 min: The Bulldogs lose the ball again and the Panthers will get another shot.
27 min: The Panthers make a mistake and the Bulldogs are off the hook again.
29 min: The Panthers get a penalty on halfway.
31 min: Stever Turner pulls off an intercept on his own ten metre line and makes it to the Penrith 30.
32 min: TRY
Josh Reynolds scores a try for Dogs after some nice footwork allows him to slice through the Panthers defence. Turner adds the extras.
Penrith Panthers 12-6
37 min: Bulldogs are pinned for a forward pass 30 out from their own line and the Panther will have a chance to do some damage before half time.
39 min: The Panthers will get a line dropout after Walsh Goodwin is trapped in goal after cleaning up a Walsh chip kick.
40 min: Blake Austin is pinned for a forward pass and that's the half.
41 min: The second half is under way.
41 min: A good set from the Panthers to open the half sees them reach tackle 5 on halfway. Walsh's kick goes out 15 metres out from the Dogs' line.
43 min: The Bulldogs receive a penalty 40 out from their own line.
44 min: Hodkinson goes to the air on the last, his teammates are there but Josh Morris can't control the ball and the Panthers will get a restart on their 20.
45 min: Luke Lewis is penalised for a tackle on Ben Barba and the Dogs will get a piggyback up the field.
47 min: TRY
Ben Barba scores a try after a clever dummy by James Graham to set his fullback up.Turner convert.s
12 all
48 min: The Panthers are penalised again, this time 20 out from the Dogs' line.
50 min: Barba knocks on a Luke Walsh bomb only 5 metres out from his own line, Coote scoops the ball up but knocks it on over the line.
51 min: Nathan Smith is tackled into touch on the first tackle and the Dogs survive another set in their own ten.
53 min: Ben Barba is trapped in goal and the Panthers will get a line dropout.
55 min: The Panthers will get a scrum ten out after Ben Barba is tackled over the sideline after a fielding a Luke Walsh kick.
55 min: The Panthers will get a scrum ten out after Ben Barba is tackled over the sideline after a fielding a Luke Walsh kick.
57 min: PENALTY GOAL
Panthers get a penalty ten out and opt to go for the two.
Penrith Panthers 14-12
59 min: Morris is tackled into touch 40 metres out from the Panthers line after making a break down the right touchline.
61 min: Morris loses the ball 10 out from his own line trying to diffuse a Walsh bomb and the Panthers will get another show at the Dogs' line.
62 min: Luke Lewis is held up in goal, the Panthers have two tackles left up their sleeve.
63 min: Panthers will get another set after Travis Burns regains possession for the Panthers ten out.
63 min: Panthers will get another set after Travis Burns regains possession for the Panthers ten out.
64 min: Brad Tighe knocks on after a bad pass by Luke Walsh.
69 min: Possible try to Bulldogs here.
69 min: No Try! Penalty against the Dogs. Frank Pritchard tackled David Simmons 20 out from his own forcing the ball out of Simmons hands however, replays show the hit was high. Simmons is still down.
71 min: The Panthers are penalised for being off side 40 out from the Dogs line and the Bulldogs will get an opportunity to take the lead.
73 min: TRY
Some quick play the balls give Bulldogs an overlap and clever offload from Pritchard sets Josh Morris up for a try. Turner's conversion is successful.
Canterbury Bulldogs 18-14
74 min: The Panthers will have an opportunity to hit back straight away after the Bulldogs fail to gather the ball from the kickoff.
76 min: Luke Walsh throws a forward pass under pressure on the last and the Dogs should come away with it here.
77 min: Dane Weston is penalised for a high shot and the Dogs will go right on the attack.
78 min: Possible try to the Bulldogs here!
79 min: TRY
Ennis grubbers through on the last and Lachlan Coote makes a mess of cleaning it up and Bryson Goodwin is there to ground the ball. Turner fails to convert from the touchline.
Canterbury Bulldogs 22-14
80 min: The hooter sounds and the match is over.