Panthers edge out Knights in Flegg

Jersey Flegg Grand Final
Newcastle Knights 20 v Penrith Panthers 22
at Telstra Stadium
Referee: Steve Lyons

Match Summary:
The Penrith Panthers have won the 2006 Jersey Flegg Grand Final with an upset 22-20 victory over Newcastle Knights at Telstra Stadium this afternoon. Minor premiers the Knights led 14-6 at the break before a couple of quick tries from the Panthers brought them right back into the contest.

The Knights opened the scoring in the seventh minute after a flick ball from Callan Richardson found Jonathon Wright down the right hand flank. Wright passed back inside to Scott Dureau for the first try. Luke Walsh converted and the Knights were 6-0 in front.

The Panthers were right back in the contest and in the 14th minute, Liam Campbell bursting on to a short pass to score in the corner. Scores were then level as the fullback Matthew Forwood converted from the sideline.

The Knights then led 14-6 at the break, as two quick tries to hooker Terence SeuSeu and centre Callan Richardson sent the lead out to eight, but still the Panthers were in striking distance.

Penrith got off to the perfect start in the second half, as winger Geoff Daniela made a breakand turned the ball back on the inside to Michael Jennings to score under the posts to put his side just two points behind.

The Panthers hit the front for the first time in the match as captain Jaye Martleitner dived over from dummy half. Matthew Forwood's successful conversion gave Penrith a four point advantage.

Newcastle needed to hit back and they did so as Fijian winger Akuila Uate set off down field from inside his own half. When confronted by the Panthers fullback, Uate stepped inside to score next to the uprights. Halfback Luke Walsh converted and the Knights had a 20-18 advantage.

Just when it seemed the game was slipping away from the Panthers, and with just five minutes remaining on the clock, Jarrod Summut put up a bomb that was knocked backwards by a Panthers player. Wiremu Weepu was there to score in the corner.

The conversion attempt missed, but the Panthers were now up 22-20, which ended up being the full time score.

With just 35 seconds remaining in the match, a Panthers player knocked on and the Knights had one final chance, just 40 metres out from the line. In that set of six, the number six Scott Dureau put a chip over the top but the Panthers second rower claimed ithe ball.

The Panthers this season have won the Harold Matthews Cup, SG Ball Cup and now the Jersey Flegg Cup. They take the Jersey Flegg Cup off last year?s winners St George Illawarra.


Scorers:
Newcastle Knights: 20
Tries: Akuila Uate, Callan Richardson, Terence Seu Seu, Scott Dureau
Goals: Luke Walsh 2/4
Penrith Panthers: 22
Tries: Michael Jennings, Liam Campbell, Jaye Martleitner, Wiremu Weepu
Goals: Matthew Forwood 3/4

By the Clock:
Good afternoon and welcome to the first fixture of 2006 Grand Final Day.In just under 10 minutes it is the Jersey Flegg Grand Final between Penrith and Newcastle.Newcastle were the minor premiers this year,and made the grand final after a 1 point victory over the Dragons last weekend.Penrith on the other hand,finished 5th at the end of the regular season,and dramatically earnt a week off after 2nd and 3rd were both defeated.

Newcastle is as per the program,with Rip Taylor making no chances.For the Panthers,Hazelton comes in to the run on side in to prop with Grant going back to the bench.They are coached by legend Brett Kenny.

Your referee is Steve Lyons.

1 min: Kickoff!

5 min: A kick downfield from Penrith's Jarrod Sammut is charged down and Martleitner knocks on with 40 metres of free space ahead of him.

7 min: TRY Newcastle Knights
The Knights get first blood as a slick backline play results in a flick pass from Richardson on to Wright who passes back inside to Dureau for the first try. The replay on the big screen shows that the pass from dummy half was in fact forward.
Walsh converts the try.
Knights 6-0

8 min: The Panthers get a piggy back down field from a penalty in the own quarter.

9 min: The Panthers are deep on the attack before Lawrence Enosi is ruled to have knocked on in the play the ball,the second rower does not seem to pleased with the decision.

11 min: Uate goes from dummy half on tackle 5 for the Knights and appears to have scored but a good call from the ingoal judge says that he knocked on.

13 min: A penalty against Newcastle as Tupou has allegedly attempted to eye gouge a Penrith player.

14 min: TRY Penrith Panthers
On the back of the penalty,the Panthers hit back as centre Liam Campbell pounces on an overlap down the right hand side.
The kick from the sideline is a beauty from Matthew Forwood.
6 all.

16 min: The kickoff from Dureau is dead on the full!

21 min: TRY Newcastle Knights
Knights hooker Terence Seu Seu scoots out of dummy half,gets tackled on the 10,is not held,gets up,and keeps the legs pumping to score in the corner to get the Knights back in front.
Walsh from the sideline just misses to the left.
Knights 10-6

24 min: NEWS The Panthers throw the ball around on tackle 5 just 10 out from the Knights line before knocking on.

27 min: TRY Newcastle Knights
Callan Richardson extends the margin for the Knights as,five-eight Scott Dureau latched on to a grubber kick on halfway before racing down 50 metres before a try saving tackle by the Panthers fullback Matthew Forwood.On the next play,Richardson wrong foots the marker to score in the corner.
Walsh with the kick hooks away.
Knights 14-6

31 min: Wright has a try disallowed for the Knights in the corner as when putting the ball down,the touchjudge rules he had been bumped tough ingoal.

33 min: Just two out from halftime here as the Jersey Flegg halves are just 35 minutes.

35 min: Halftime in the Jersey Flegg Grand Final - The Knights dominated the opening 15 minutes of the first half,before the Panthers came right back in to the match.Although dominating possession after this,the Panthers still find themselves down 14-6 at halftime.

36 min: NEWS Second half underway!

40 min: TRY Penrith Panthers
The Panthers get the try they needed after the break as a break from Geoff Daniela down the right flank is turned back on the inside to Michael Jennings who scores under the posts.
Forwood converts the try.
Knights 14-12

44 min: A kick downfield from the Panthers is knocked on by Knights fullback Wooden.

50 min: TRY Penrith Panthers
The Panthers are in front for the first time in the match as hooker Jaye Martleitner scores from dummy half.
Forwood converts the try.
Panthers 18-14

53 min: TRY Newcastle Knights
Uate gets the Knights back infront as he busts through the defence inside his own half,comes to the fullback,steps around him to score next to the posts.
Walsh converts the try.
Knights 20-18

58 min: Just 12 out from fulltime as a Panthers penalty finds touch just 20 out from the Knights line.

65 min: TRY Penrith Panthers
The Panthers are infront again with just 5 to go on the clock,a bomb goes up,it looks to be going dead ingoal,but it is knocked back by a Panthers player,and Wiremu Weepu is there to score outwide.
Forwood hits the post with the conversion.
Panthers 22-20

65 min: TRY Penrith Panthers
The Panthers are infront again with just 5 to go on the clock,a bomb goes up,it looks to be going dead ingoal,but it is knocked back by a Panthers player,and Wiremu Weepu is there to score outwide.
Forwood hits the post with the conversion.
Panthers 26-20

68 min: Just 2 minutes to go and the Panthers have the ball just 20 out.

68 min: The Panthers have a try disallowed as the try scorer from a grubber kick is ruled to be offside.

69 min: Some great ball movement from the Knights just the final pass is forward which may have sent the winger down 30 metres to score.

70 min: A knockon from the Panthers and the Knights have 35 seconds and 45 metres to go to win the Grand Final.

70 min: A kick through from Dureau is cleaned up by Corey Vlaciky for the Panthers,and the Panthers will win!

Fulltime - The Panthers have kicked off Grand Final day by winning the Jersey Flegg Grand Final.
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Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Jarrod Sammut (Panthers)
2 - Scott Dureau (Knights)
1 - Jaye Martleitner (Panthers)
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