Panthers too classy for Eagles

The Panthers kept their hopes of winning the minor premiership alive with a come from behind 52-26 victory over the Eagles at Brookvale Oval this evening.

No one watching the game would have expected the fulltime scoreline as the Eagles went to the sheds leading 26 points to 12 and Ryan Girdler was taken off with an occurance of the sternum injury that has kept him out for most of the season.

For the Panthers tonight showed what awesome tryscoring potential they have but tonight also raises concerns about their defence as they head into the finals where the games will be tighter and tries more difficult to come by.

Scorers: SEA EAGLES 26 Tries: Torrens 2, Shipway, MacDougall, Randall Goals: Harris 3/4,Ferris 0/2 PANTHERS 52 Tries:Campbell 2, Lewis 2, Priddis, Galea, Puletua, Sattler, Wesser, Goals:Campbell 6/7, Girdler 2/2

Saturday 30 August 2003 7:30 PM Brookvale Oval Referee: Steve Lyons Video Referee: Chris Ward

Leagueunlimited players of the match:

3 - P Campbell (Panthers) 2 - C Gower (Panthers) 1 - T Puletua (Panthers)

By the clock: 0 min: Kick Off

5 min: TRY- Panthers: Luke Priddis dives in from dummy half for the Panthers first try of the night. Ryan Girdler is successful with the conversion. Panthers 6-0.

12 min: TRY- Panthers: Preston Campbell scores under the posts after receiving a mis-directed pass from Brendon Reeves 10 metres out from his own line. Ryan Girdler is successful with the conversion. Panthers 12-0

17 min: TRY- Eagles: Albert Torrens goes in for the Eagles first try after some handy lead up work from Steve Menzies and Luke Dorn. Jason Ferris is unsuccessful with the conversion. Panthers 12-4

21 min: TRY- Eagles: Albert Torrens scores his 2nd try of the game after the Eagles regain possession after Rhys Wesser is bundled into touch. Jason Ferris is unsuccessful with the conversion. Panthers 12-8

25 min: TRY- Eagles: Mark Shipway scores after Luke Dorn bats back a kick form going over the dead ball line. Sam Harris is given the goalkicking duties and is successful with the conversion. Eagles 14-12

29 min: NEWS: Solomon Haumono is denied a try by the video referee after the video referee rules that Haumono made a double movement after busting through 4 Panthers defenders.

33 min: TRY- Eagles: Ben MacDougall goes in for a try near the corner. Sam Harris is successful with the conversion from out near the touchline. Eagles 20-12

37 min: TRY- Eagles: Chad Randall scores under the posts after backing up a break by Kevin McGuiness. Sam Harris is successful with the conversion. Eagles 26-12

Halftime: After a first 10 minutes where everybody in the crowd and watching at home on TV were thinking a Panthers massacre was on the cards. The game pretty much stayed in the Panthers half and as a result the Eagles scored 5 tries with the likes of Kevin McGuinness and Luke Dorn running amok of the Panthers defence. If the Panthers don't wake up to themselves in the second half they could be at the wrong end of an absolute massacre.

NEWS: Ryan Girdler is in the sheds with a an occurance of the sternum injury that kept him out earlier this season.

43 min: NEWS: Luke Priddis kicks out on the full from dummy half 30 metres out from his own line. The Eagles are back on the attack.

45 min: NEWS: Sam Harris is unsuccessful with a kick at goal from next to the posts after the Eagles receive a penalty.

49 min: TRY- Panthers: Danny Galea scores his first try in 1st Grade. Preston Campbell is successful with the conversion. Eagles 26-18

51 min: NEWS: A possible try is bombed for the Eagles as Jason Ferris drops a chip and chase with the try line wide open.

56 min: TRY- Panthers: After consulting the video referee. Steve Lyons awards a try to Panthers second-rower Tony Puletua. Preston Campbell is successful with the conversion. Eagles 26-24

61 min: TRY- Panthers: The Panthers regain the lead after Preston Campbell goes under the posts to score his second try of the evening. Campbell converts his own try. Panthers 30-26

65 min: TRY- Panthers: Scott Sattler scores his first try of the season after he runs on to a neat inside pass from Craig Gower. Preston Campbell is successful with the conversion. Panthers 36-26

68 min: TRY- Panthers: Rhys Wesser goes in for his 21st try of the season. Preston Campbell converts from in front. Panthers 42-26

74 min: TRY- Panthers: Luke Lewis scores after some great lead up work by Preston Campbell. Campbell is successful with the conversion. Panthers 48-26

80 min: TRY- Panthers: The Panthers crack the half century mark as Luke Lewis scores in the corner. Preston Campbell is unsuccessful with the conversion attempt. Panthers 52-26.

Fulltime: Tonight was a case of the Eagles playing great for the first half but then totally being outclassed by the Panthers in the second half.