Moylan rains on Cowboys on parade

Matthew Moylan has slotted his second field goal of the season, helping to steer Penrith to a late 23-22 win over a gallant North Queensland side, in front of 7,276 fans at Penrith Park tonight. 

The Panthers playing roster, is resembling more a casualty ward, as more than half their squad is spending time on the sideline this season. James Segeyaro was the latest to join the ward with an injury late in the contest, as the two teams were locked at 22-a piece in the sodden conditions in Sydney's west. 

Injuries have opened the door, for Jamie Soward, to become captain of the Panthers in his first season at the club. The halfback has stepped into the void from the numerous injuries in the halves, this season. He scored the Panthers opening two tries, starting and finishing a movement for his first and giving a glimpse of his maligned running game to rack up ten points alone in the opening half hour. 

Despite the Soward heroics, Penrith found themselves much like last week against St George, behind after five minutes. A Mansour error gave Thurston opportunity and he sent a deft pass, to Kane Linnett to give the Cowboys, the perfect start in trying to make it three from three on the road in recent weeks. 

North Queensland showed some steely resolve, twice fighting back to keep themselves in the game against a Penrith outfit that have surprised many this season. Speaking of unexpected, it was Gavin Cooper playing the play-making role, providing the assist for the Glenn Hall try to reduce the deficit to four right on the bell after Jeremy Latimore, scored the Panthers third. 

In trying conditions, both teams showed attacking football to defy the conditions. North Queensland continued their roll from the first half, scoring within five minutes of the restart. Some crafty footwork, put the halfback over and Johnathan Thurston's conversion, put them ahead for the first time since the fifth minute. 

When things went well for the Cowboys, it was quickly followed by an error, penalty or in Matthew Wright's case, a sin-bin. The winger was binned for a professional foul after Jamie Soward intercepted the ball. Soward not content to provide the field position, threw a lovely floated pass for Josh Mansour, to score in the corner. 

When one halfback was providing inspiration for his side, it was the Cowboy's halfback, on a broken piece of play, kicked for Cooper, to bat back to Antonio Winterstein. The winger showed guile and speed, to hug the touchline and score in the corner. Thurston couldn't convert the tough sideline kick and it was locked at 22-all. 

Both teams were tussling, like two sides of a tug-o-war with a focus on field position instead of a flurry of field goal attempts. There was only one, Matthew Moylan, who kicked a field goal earlier this year against Brisbane, stepped up again. After Soward was rushed upon, the ball found it's way to the fullback who slotted the field goal, rising the Panthers to third despite, a massive injury toll.

Match Details
Penrith Panthers 23 North Queensland Cowboys 22
Venue: Sportingbet Stadium
Crowd: 7276
Halftime Score: Penrith Panthers 16 North Queensland Cowboys 12

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Jamie Soward
2 points - Matt Moylan
1 point - Johnathan Thurston

PENRITH PANTHERS (23)
Tries: Jamie Soward (2), Jeremy Latimore, Josh Mansour
Field Goals: Matt Moylan (1/1)
Conversions: Jamie Soward (0/2), Matt Moylan (2/2)
Penalty Goals: Jamie Soward (1/1)

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (22)
Tries: Kane Linnett, Glenn Hall, Robert Lui, Antonio Winterstein
Field Goals:
Conversions: Johnathan Thurston (3/4)
Penalty Goals:

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

TEAM CHANGES:

PEN: There are two changes, for the Panthers, on a cold, wet night in the West. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak replaces David Simmons on the wing whle Matt Robinson starts, in place of Issac Yeo, who drops out. Ben Murdoch-Masila makes his Panthers debut from the bench.

NQL: Only one change for the Cowboys, with Gavin Cooper starting, in place of Tariq Sims. Ethan Lowe comes onto the bench.

Welcome to a wet, blustery and tough night here at Penrith. Tonight, is the final fixture, of Round 23, which is 'Close the Gap' round, celebrating the indigenous achievements in the game and looking to help increase their life expectancy. Onto the game, Penrith and North Queensland, are both coming off victories, that have helped to cement their position in the top eight. Penrith were almost impenetrable against the Dragons while North Queensland demoralised the crisis-ridden Tigers, leaving us with tonight's clash. Join us for coverage from 7:05pm AEST.

North Queensland are already on field here at Penrith, wearing their close the gap, jersey.. waiting for the home side. Here come the Panthers, wearing their black jersey. KICK-OFF is moment's away.

1: Boot goes to ball, here we go.

2: UNFORCED ERROR PENRITH PANTHERS
Josh Mansour makes an unforced error.
That wasn't how the first set was supposed to go. The kick from the halfback, bobbles around before Mansour spilled it.

4: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Kane Linnett. Kick to come.
Some nice slight of hand from Thurston created that. He feigned wide, before going to the onrushing Linnett, who had a golden run to the try-line.

5: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
Thurston with an attempt in these treacherous conditions, swings it in with an assist to the upright.

6: The wind is acting like a fourteenth man for the Cowboys, as another kick, bamboozles Moylan.

7: PENALTY Cowboys - slow play the ball.

9: PENALTY for the Panthers now. They have some respite from the Cowboys attack.

12: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Jamie Soward. Kick to come.
Soward started and finished that movement. He took the offload, drifting across, looking for the outlet run which was Zelezniak, who positioned the halfback, to score in the corner.

12: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward unsuccessful.
Soward coming up to convert his own try, steps in and bends it like a banana.. it goes wide.

16: The Panthers are on the prowl now! A PENALTY gives them good position, right on halfway.

18: Smith gets jiggy with it, knocking the ball through for Moga to take dead.

18: PENALTY Panthers, Segeyaro caught the markers offside. Soward immediately points to the sticks.

18: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL PENRITH PANTHERS
Penalty goal attempt by Jamie Soward successful.
The new Panthers captain, makes it six a piece with this penalty

20: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Antonio Winterstein makes an unforced error.
Since they scored in the third minute, North Queensland have imploded. Antonio Winterstein, thinking several steps ahead, spills it.

21: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Matthew Wright makes an unforced error.
That was the Wright move, as Panthers tried to create an overlap from the scrum. The centre knocked it down, another set incoming.

22: UNFORCED ERROR PENRITH PANTHERS
Adam Docker makes an unforced error.
Soward feigns to go behind but hits the front man, in Docker who couldn't handle.

23: A flop after the tackle against Moylan, catches Thurston. It is a cheap metre gainer for the home side.

26: PENALTY Panthers, offside. The Panthers are just rolling through the middle now.

26: VIDEO REFEREE: Jamie Soward might have a double, checking double movement.

26: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Jamie Soward. Kick to come.
GREEN LIGHTS..TRY! We haven't seen much of the halfback, running this season but he has unleashed tonight. He jinked, stepped and rolled over to the try-line

27: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward unsuccessful.
Well Soward couldn't convert right besides the posts.

30: PENALTY Cowboys, for the downtown rule! That's as rare, as a Matthew Cooper pass.

31: Thurston tries to set up the first man ball again, for Cooper, but it went forward.

32: VIDEO REFEREE: It's a night for former Dragons, Jeremy Latimore might have four.

32: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Jeremy Latimore. Kick to come.
GREEN LIGHTS..TRY! I don't envy fullbacks tonight, Morgan was clobbered by Idris there, before the centre batted it to Latimore, who reached out for the try!

33: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Matt Moylan successful.
Moylan takes over duties there, slamming it over.

38: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Glenn Hall. Kick to come.
Some ball-playing from the forwards! Gavin Cooper wrapped around, before finding fellow forward, Glenn Hall to score.

38: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
No wasted effort from Thurston, as he slams it over.

40: HALFTIME :: Panthers hold a slender lead, after an entertaining half in torrid conditions.

41: Back underway here..

44: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Robert Lui. Kick to come.
The halfback powered over from close range.

45: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston successful.
Thurston converts from besides the posts, to take the lead.

46: UNFORCED ERROR PENRITH PANTHERS
Dallin Watene Zelezniak makes an unforced error.
Unlucky for the kid there, he made a good catch but the ball popped out.

47: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Ethan Lowe makes an unforced error.
Short ball from the halfback is spilled by Lowe.

48: PENALTY Cowboys, Robinson was never onside.

49: Intercept from Soward! He was away before being corralled by Morgan.

50: SIN BIN
Matthew Wright is sent to the sin bin.
That was not allWright.. as Matthew slowed down the next play-the-ball. He gets his marching orders.

51: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Josh Mansour. Kick to come.
Good vision there from Soward. He realised the Cowboys were short on the left after Wright's departaure, floated it to Mansour who did the rest.

52: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Matt Moylan successful.
Moylan has taken over duties, permanently it seems, can he kick this from the sideline? Yes he can.

54: UNFORCED ERROR PENRITH PANTHERS
Josh Mansour makes an unforced error.
Mansour lost the ball in the contact of the tackle there.

55: PENALTY Cowboys, Panthers inside the ten.

57: UNFORCED ERROR PENRITH PANTHERS
Sam McKendry makes an unforced error.
Panthers being such a welcoming host, allowing the Cowboys into their half frequently.

64: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Tautau Moga makes an unforced error.
Moga couldn't handle the Thurston inside ball, and Soward regathers.

68: VIDEO REFEREE: Antonio Winterstein might have scored..

68: TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Scored by Antonio Winterstein. Kick to come.
GREEN LIGHTS..TRY! The rushed kick on last comes up trumps, as Cooper bats it to Winterstein, who has a clear passage to the try-line..

69: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston unsuccessful.
Thurston has the opportunity, to give the Cowboys the lead.. from the sideline. He is getting some encouragement from the locals but couldn't straighten the kick.

77: Soward faked for the field goal, went down the right, chipping it in-goal and trapping Winterstein. Dropout.

78: SUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL PENRITH PANTHERS
Field goal attempt by Matt Moylan successful.
The defenders rush up on Soward, so he got it to Moylan, who pilots over the field goal.

80: UNFORCED ERROR NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Michael Morgan makes an unforced error.
Quick tap is taken and Morgan has it jarred free. FULLTIME.