Panthers pip Parra in Golden Point epic

It may have been the 300th game for Eels stalwart Nathan Hindmarsh but it was Penrith who stole the show, landing an 87th-minute field goal through Luke Walsh to win 23-22 in extra time at Centrebet Stadium tonight in front of 17,333 fans.

David Simmons opened proceedings with a tenth minute try, while Parramatta leveled proceedings on 19 minutes with a Justin Horo try off an Adrian Purtell error. Locked at 6-all, both sides did the hard yards up the middle before Etu Uaisele found the line out wide ten minutes shy of halftime. Parramatta looked on top and in control before a wonderful Luke Walsh grubber put Panthers fullback Lachlan Coote on the board and once again levelled the scores.

Both sides traded blows in the second half, Reni Maitua (Eels) and David Simmons (Panthers, his second) pushing the scoreline to 16-all with a try a-piece. With ten left til fulltime the Eels finally gained what seemed like match-winning ascendency, with Casey McGuire crossing near the posts and Luke Burt putting his side six points clear.

The final two seconds of the match bought controversy - a Panthers chargedown ruled as a handover against Parramatta on their own tryline. With those two seconds and the play-on time after the siren, Penrith threw the ball around with reckless abandon until finally a nifty grubber found Lachlan Coote for the most unlikely of tries. After a tense wait from the Video Referee, the try was confirmed and with a Travis Burns conversion, scores were again locked, now at 22-all, with the game headed to Golden Point.

The ensuing field-goal shootout was a failure on all counts in the first five minute period of extra time, Luke Burt and Travis Burns all pushing attempts wide or short, before Luke Walsh benefited from good field position in the 87th minute to pot a field goal just moments after a David Simmons break almost netted his side a try.

Nathan Hindmarsh goes home without two points tonight, but plenty of pride from an overall positive Eels performance. Penrith's showing was below-par given some of their recent showings, but their desperation despite being struck by injuries (Lewis and Plum both left the field in the second half) was a great sign.

Penrith's success means they go into next Sunday's home clash with Manly-Warringah with a win under their belt, while Parramatta face the struggling Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs on Friday night.

Match Details
Penrith Panthers 23 defeated Parramatta Eels 22
National Rugby League - Round 19 (Rivalry Round) - Saturday July 16, 2011 7:30pm
Venue: Centrebet Stadium Penrith
Referee: Jared Maxwell and Alan Shortall
Video Referee: Phil Cooley
Touch Judges: Daniel Eastwood and Gavin Morris
Crowd: 17,333
Halftime: Penrith Panthers 12 Parramatta Eels 12

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - Lachlan Coote (2 Tries)
2 Points - Taniela Lasalo
1 Point - David Simmons (2 Tries)

Penrith Panthers (23)
Tries: David Simmons (2), Lachlan Coote (2)
Field Goals: Travis Burns (0/1), Luke Walsh (1/1)
Conversions: Travis Burns (3/4)

Parramatta Eels (22)
Tries: Justin Horo, Reni Maitua, Etu Uaisele, Casey McGuire
Field Goals: Luke Burt (0/2)
Conversions: Luke Burt (3/4)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary Tonight, Hindy cracks 300! That's right, big Nathan Hindmarsh plays his 300th match for the Parramatta Eels, but it's a home game for rivals Penrith at Centrebet Stadium.
Team changes - Penrith lose Waterhouse. Nathan Smith comes into the backrow as his replacement. Parramatta lose Jeff Robson from the starting lineup, last weeks shuffle is on again with Burt fullback, Uaisele wing and Hayne at five-eighth. Manuokafoa drops off the bench with Pat O'Hanlon earning another spot on the interchange.
1 min: Game on, error Panthers in the first set gives the Eels a good chance early.
2 min: Jarryd Hayne throws a cutout pass straight over the sideline.
6 min: Penrith force a line dropout.
10 min: TRY
TRY Penrith Panthers
Scored by David Simmons. Conversion attempt by Travis Burns successful.
Some brilliant attacking footy ends in David Simmons managing to get the ball down inside the corner post! Penrith with the first points of the game, Burns converts successfully from out wide.
Penrith Panthers 6-0
15 min: Parramatta with an attacking chance now, but the kick doesn't work for them. Penrith working it off their own end.
19 min: TRY
TRY Parramatta Eels
Scored by Justin Horo. Conversion attempt by Luke Burt successful.
Adrian Purtell spills it terribly and Justin Horo cleans up the scraps to score the easiest of tries. Burt converts to level the scores.
6 all
24 min: Luke Lewis looking dangerous up the right side and Penrith earn another penalty off Tim Mannah. Mannah is interchanged straight after the tackle.
28 min: Shane Shackleton is down injured after attempting a big hit on Dayne Weston. The Eels forward is not looking great. Disneyland stuff. He tries staying on but the trainer is trying just as hard to get him off.
31 min: VIDEO REFEREE, possible Eels try to Uaisele... checking obstruction.
32 min: TRY
TRY Parramatta Eels
Scored by Etu Uaisele. Conversion attempt by Luke Burt successful.
Good backline movement from the men in blue and gold, eventually finding Uaisele with somewhat of an overlap. Simmons was caught out there. Burt moves in, strikes it and it's good!
Parramatta Eels 12-6
36 min: Penrith with a penalty nearing halftime. They'll attack here, and look to level up the scores.
39 min: TRY
TRY Penrith Panthers
Scored by Lachlan Coote. Conversion attempt by Travis Burns successful.
Beautifully threaded through from Walsh to Coote and that's a great try to the Penrith fullback. Burns levels things up again.
12 all
40 min: HALFTIME at Centrebet and we're 12-all at the break. Neither side looking deadly but both playing some solid footy.
41 min: Game back underway for the second half. Eels with first possession. CROWD: 17,333 at Centrebet.
42 min: Lachlan Coote injured... taking his time getting to his feet. Looked like a neck problem but he's okay. Play on.
45 min: One-on-one strip... Penrith with the ball inside Parramatta's 20... danger signs here...
48 min: Luke Lewis looking dodgy there for a minute but he's staying on. Nigel Plum injured now as captain Petero makes his way back onto the field.
49 min: Penalty Eels, Dayne Weston's knoced Burt senseless after a last-tackle kick. Eels on the attack.
50 min: Loose Eels pass is taken by David Simmons and he smashes his way up-field before Hayne strips it from him... and now Hayne's injured!
52 min: TRY
TRY Parramatta Eels
Scored by Reni Maitua. Conversion attempt by Luke Burt unsuccessful.
Hayne holds the defence off long enough to find returnee Reni Maitua on his inside. Burt's attempt is ordinary and he doesn't convert.
Parramatta Eels 16-12
56 min: INJURY UPDATE: Luke Lewis has a problem with the AC joint. Unlikely to return tonight. We also have Nigel Plum off the park with a shoulder problem, and Michael Jennings was clutching his shoulder too.
60 min: Penrith crowd really getting into this one but the referees aren't caving to the hometown pressure.
62 min: Plenty of offloads from the Panthers, looking dangerous until a Purtell chip falls to Luke Burt.
63 min: VIDEO REFEREE, Penrith may have a try to Simmons here. Checking a hit from Coote on Etu Uaisele which results in the Eels winger spilling it...
64 min: TRY
TRY Penrith Panthers
Scored by David Simmons. Conversion attempt by Travis Burns unsuccessful.
HUGE hit from Lachlan Coote on Etu Uaisele, forcing the ball loose. Coote picks it up and bounces away, they find David Simmons on the flank and he dots down in the corner. Burns pushes the conversion attempt wide.
16 all
66 min: A sneaky grubber up the centre from Seluini for Penrith is guarded and taken by Hindmarsh. Eels should get some good ball from this now.
67 min: Coote fields a Jarryd Hayne bomb very well, and even adds a few metres for good measure.
69 min: Michael Jennings loses the ball just as the Panthers looked dangerous down the left edge. Real chance for Parramatta here.
71 min: VIDEO REFEREE, possible Eels try to McGuire... checking for a "driver" assist from an Eels teammate which we saw a try disallowed to QLD for in Origin 3. Decision pending...
72 min: TRY
TRY Parramatta Eels
Scored by Casey McGuire. Conversion attempt by Luke Burt successful.
The try is awarded and the Eels are in front! Burt converts the McGuire try without trouble.
Parramatta Eels 22-16
74 min: 6 on the clock at Centrebet in front of 17,333 fans and Penrith need a six-pointer here to level with the Eels. They attack.
76 min: Nathan Smith with a superb take on a cross-field kick but he can't get the ball down... superb Eels defence!
78 min: Penrith keep the ball alive on the last and go so close, but more great Jarryd Hayne defence does it! Final minute now, Eels look like they have this one...
80 min: VIDEO REFEREE, possible Penrith try to Lachlan Coote... they get the ball somewhat unfairly with two seconds to go, keep it alive, stab it through the line, Coote gets it... and it's a...
80 min: TRY
TRY Penrith Panthers
Scored by Lachlan Coote. Conversion attempt by Travis Burns successful.
Coote is awarded the try... Burns converts, and it's 22-all. MORE GOLDEN POINT!
22 all
81 min: Parramatta with first possession in Extra Time.
81 min: FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT
ATTEMPTED FIELD GOAL Parramatta Eels
Field goal attempt by Luke Burt unsuccessful.
Luke Burt misses the Field Goal attempt *just* to the left. 83 min: FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT
ATTEMPTED FIELD GOAL Parramatta Eels
Field goal attempt by Luke Burt unsuccessful.
Another miss from Burt, far worse attempt this time from the Eels fullback.
22 all
84 min: FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT
ATTEMPTED FIELD GOAL Penrith Panthers
Field goal attempt by Travis Burns unsuccessful.
Travis Burns has an ordinary stab and it goes acres wide of the posts.
22 all
85 min: HALFTIME in Extra Time. Still locked at 22-each. Two very tired teams out there, field-goal shootout continues.
85 min: Second five-minute period of extra time is underway, now Penrith with the ball. First team to score points wins, or if no points after 90 minutes - it's a draw.
87 min: FIELD GOAL
FIELD GOAL Penrith Panthers
Field goal attempt by Luke Walsh successful.
A break from David Simmons down the left and the Panthers are on the Eels line - Walsh gets it the next play and nails it perfectly. Penrith by one!
Penrith Panthers 23-22