Panthers Go On the Prowl
and Growl

It was all the P's tonight, when Penrith's key players, Preston, Puletua, Priddis and Prichard ran amok against a luke warm opposition.

In perfect conditions, the Panthers rarely got out of third gear, as they demolished the hapless North Queensland Cowboys 56 points to 6.

In a determined 80 minutes performance, Penrith cast aside any criticisms of defensive lapses and lack of concentration to hold the Cowboys to only one try.

The Cowboys missed prop forward Paul Rauhihi, one of the form props in the NRL competition this season, although its hard to imagine how the result could have been much different.

The Panthers attacked all night and punished the Cowboys for every mistake they made. Campbell and Wesser combined particularly well to set up opportunities and to finish things off.

Next week the Cowboys face an in form Tigers side, in a battle for one of the last spaces in the eight.

Penrith meet the Broncos for the crack at a top 4 berth and a home semi final - a result that would please tonights vocal crowd of 12,391.

PANTHERS 56 Tries: Wesser 3, Whaturia 2, Priddis, Pritchard, Campbell, Lewis, Rooney Goals: Campbell 8/10 defeated COWBOYS 6 Tries: Luck Goals: Hannay 1/1

Penrith Football Stadium, Crowd: 12,391 Referee: Stephen Clark Half time score: Panthers 18-6

By the clock:

Good size crowd and great conditions at Penrith Stadium for tonight's all important match between the Penrith Panthers and the North Queensland Cowboys.

Penrith are playing to hang on to their 4th position while the Cowboys are playing for their first ever finals berth.

The Cowboys have lost PAUL RAUHIHI. For Penrith, Roberts is out and replaced by Danny Galea

1 min: Pentrith on the attack after a Cowboy mistake in the very first six.

6 mins: NEWS. No score with both teams throwing the ball around. An electrifying start.

8 mins: NEWS. Danny Galea gets across the line. He may be held up and there may have been an obstruction. We are off to the video ref. No Try.

16 mins: NEWS. 40/20 kick from Nathan Fien puts Cowboys on the attack. Ball spilt and Panthers given two penalties back to back. Steve Clarke objects to being questioned in a certain way by Travis Norton.

19 mins. TRY - Penrith

Rhys Wesser takes a Preston Campbell ball and accelerates through the gap. The video ref is looking at it, but its a try. Campbell adds the extras. Penrith 6-Cowboys Nil.

24 mins: TRY - Penrith

Luke Priddis has taken a remarkable low ball from Rhys Wesser and gone over. Campbell converts. Penrith 12 Cowboys Nil.

26 mins: TRY - Penrith

Whaturia scores for Penrith near the posts in an easy try from a Trent Waterhouse pass. Campbell converts. Penrith 18 Cowboys Nil.

33 mins: NEWS. Cowboys attacking for what seems like the first time in ages. Penrith defend a number of sets of six. After 3 sets the Cowboys get a penalty a few metres out which leads to....

36 mins: TRY- Cowboys

After a sustained attack, Michael Luck has been put across the line by some nice work by Nathan Fien. Hannay converts. Penrith 18 Cowboys 6.

HALF TIME

Penrith have played well in the first half, lead by Campbell and Priddis. The Cowboys showed what they are capable of towards the end of the first half.

40 mins: We're back live at Penrith Stadium. The Panthers have started the second stanza strongly.

41 mins: Try- Penrith

Prichard crashes through two tackles and over the line. Preston misses conversion. Penrith 22 Cowboys 6.

47 mins: Try Penrith

After a big break from Frank Pritchard the ball is offloaded to Paul Whaturia who puts the ball down over the chalk. Campbell converts from wide out Penrith 28- Cowboys 6.

News- Tonights crowd is 12 391

56 min s: Try -Penrith

Craig Gower makes the break and slips a pass to preston Campbell who beats the fullback and scores under the posts. campbell converts his own try. Penrith 34 -Cowboys 6

60 mins: Try Penrith

Wesser slides in to score an easy try for the Panthers. Campbell kicks the goal. Penrith 40 Cowboys 6

There's more tries left in the Panthers.

65 mins: News:

Bowman in the bin for The Cowboys for a professional foul.

67 mins Try: Penrith

Gower from dummy half gets the ball from Wesser to Campbell who put Luke Lewis under the posts. Preston converts. Penrith 46 -Cowboys 6

The ground announcer has called for 50!

70 mins: Try Penrith

Gower and Campbell combine again to get Rooney across the line from a grubbering kick. Campbell misses. Penrith 50 Cowboys 6

78 mins: Try Penrith

Rhys Wesser streaks away and scores a long distance try. After some conjecture about a double movement the video ref awards the points.

Full time. Penrith have defeated the North Queensland Cowboys 56-6 ----------------------------------------- Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - P Campbell (Penrith) 2 - R Wesser (Penrith) 1 - T Puletua (Penrith) -----------------------------------------