Panthers get second wind to defeat Bunnies

The Panthers have kept alive their chances of finishing without the wooden spoon in 2007 with an emphatic second half performance to defeat the Rabbitohs 32-16 tonight. With the scoreline at 10-all going in to the break and then 16-10 to the visitors shortly after, the Panthers ran in four unanswered tries to win the game 32-16.

Souths got off to the best possible start with two tries in the opening fifteen minutes to run out to a 10-0 lead.

The Bunnies got the benefit of the doubt on the first try, with Fetuli Talanoa going close to the sideline and corner post, and with players blocking the camera, video referee Russell Smith ruled benefit of the doubt to the visitors who were to play from in front.

Not long later, some brilliance from former Panthers five-eighth Ben Rogers put the Rabbitohs further in front, stepping through three Panthers players to score near the posts to stretch the margin out to 10.

On the back of a mountain of possession, the Panthers finally were able to score their first points of the evening, when captain courageous Craig Gower cut through from close range to bring the margin back to four.

Within the blink of an eye, scores were level with rookie fullback Jarrod Sammut slicing through before magically offloading to kiwi back rower Frank Pritchard who beat Merritt with pace to score out wide.

Shortly after the break the Bunnies were back in front after a 90m intercept from young winger Fetuli Talanoa. If the pass had have hit a Panthers chest it would have been a Penrith try.

Moments later, the Panthers were back on level terms with a controversial try to prop Matthew Cross, as a big hint of a double movement was not looked upon by video referee Russell Smith.

With the possession and completion rate increasing for Penrith, they were able to take advantage of their many chances, with rookie winger Michael Jennings putting the wooden spoon favourites in front as a cross field bomb from Wallace was tapped back with Jennings picking up the scraps to score out wide.

Fifteen minutes from time, with a hint of a forward pass from Peter Wallace, on tackle five when running the ball, excellent hole running from Jennings again put the game beyond Souths