Thriller at Penrith, ends in smiles
for the Panthers

The Penrith Panthers have defeated the Melbourne Storm this Easter Sunday in a game of two halves by 30-26 at Penrith Stadium.

The Panthers looked the goods in the first half with Craig Gower leading by example as they lead at the break by 18 to 6.

It looked like the Panthers would continue there first half form as they scored the first try soon after the break but the Storm wouldn?t lie down as they scored 16 points in as many minutes to give them a sniff. With 10 minutes to go this match was evenly poised as both teams were going back and forth. Matt King got a try from a grubber to put them storm within 4 points. Both sides made multiple errors as they both had there chance.

Right on the buzzer Scott Hill made a clean break. The man outside him went inside the field which obviously wasn?t spotted by Hill. He offload to thin air as they ball bounced over the sideline and the Panthers and the Penrith faithful raised there arms in victory.

Penrith Stadium Referee: Sean Hampstead

Scorers: PANTHERS 30 Tries: Roberts 2,Puletua,Ross,Rodney Goals: Girdler 5/6 defeated STORM 26 Tries: King 2,Robinson,Cooper,Orford Goals: Smith 3/5

----------------------------------------- Leagueunlimited.com players of the match: 3 - M Lang (Panthers) 2 - C Gower (Panthers) 1 - M King (Storm) -------------------------------- By the clock: 0 min: A big crowd is in hand to watch the Penrith Panthers take on the Melbourne Storm on this Easter Sunday. The Storm kick off.

5 min: NEWS - The Panthers get another set of set of six following a drop out. Craig Gower throws a flat pass to Ryan Girdler near the line. It was ruled to be forward.

10 min: TRY - Craig Gower passes an inside ball to find Tony Puletua. He powers his way through the Melbourne defence to plant the ball on the line. Ryan Girdler missed the conversion. 4-0 Panthers

12 min: NEWS - The Storm cough up the ball on the first tackle following a penalty inside 20 metres from the Panthers line.

16 min: TRY - Following a Storm penalty Matt Orford throws an inside pass to Peter Robinson to score Melbournes first try. Cameron Smith converts. 6-4 Storm

23 min: NEWS - Craig Gower kicks a beautifull 40/20 kick to plant Penrith down near The Storm's line. Luke Lewis was ruled to have knocked it forward, Melbourne are let off the hook

31 min: TRY - Luke Priddis makes a break through the middle of the Storms defence. He finds Ben Ross in support to score. Girdler converts from close in front. 10-6 Panthers

32 min: NEWS - The Storm make a silly error after Robbie Kearns knocks on from dummy half near Penriths line. Both teams look evenly matched.

37 min: TRY - Penrith spread it wide. They find Amos Roberts who scores in the corner. Ryan Girdler converts. 16-6 Panthers.

38 min: NEWS - Penrith pass it out wide, Luke Lewis attracts in 2 defenders he passes it to Amos Roberts. There's a man outside but he decides to kick and the ball goes dead

40 min: PENALTY GOAL - The storm is penalised, Ryan Girdler gets the Penalty goal on the brink of half time. 18-6 Panthers.

HALF TIME: Both teams have looked strong with the Panthers failing to cnvert some of there earlier opportunities. The Storm let themselves down in the laster stages of the second half. The Panthers are leading at the break 18-6.Possesion:Panthers 59%,Storm 41%

40 min: The Panthers kick off the second half

43 min: NEWS - The Storm pass it out wide, Jake Webster gets the ball with a clear run to the line but Luke Lewis puts in a supeb tackle to take him over the sideline.

46 min: TRY - Craig Gower throws an inside the ball to find Shayne Rodney, he beats several Storm defenders to score. Girdler converts. 24-6 Panthers

50 min: TRY - Matt Orford puts in a chip kick into the Storms in goal area. It's a cruel bounce for Luke Rooney as Dustin Cooper pounces on the ball to score. Smith's conversion attempt from out wide goes to the left of the posts. 24-10 Panthers

52 min: NEWS - Penrith put in a grubber,Luke Priddis grabs it and passes it Preston Campbell. A storm players holds him up as he offloads but it finds the hands of the Storms Ryan Hoffman.

57 min: TRY - It appears nothing is on as Matt Orford gets the ball. He sidesteps 3 Panthers as to score from some individual brilliance. Smith converts. 24-16 Panthers

61 min: TRY - A goodback line movement from the Storm.Matt King recieves the ball,He drags ad beats 3 Panthers defenders to score. Smith converts. The Storm are on fire. 24-22 Panthers

66 min: TRY - A brilliant pass from Preston Campbell goes out wide to find Luke Lewis. He attracts a Storm defender as he passes to an un-marked Amos Roberts who juggles the ball for a brief moment to score. Ryan Girdler 8 metres from touch converts for the Panthers as they hit back. 30-22 Panthers

70 min: NEWS - With 10 minutes to go both sides are looking dangerous with the ball in hand. This match can go either way.

72 min: NEWS - 5 metres out from the line The Storm spill the ball, Penrith are let off the hook.

74 min: TRY - A beautiful grubber into the Panthers in goal from Matt Orford gives Matt King an easy try.Cameron Smith misses the conversion. This game is going down to the wire. 30-26 Panthers

75 min: NEWS - Scott Hill drops the ball from the re-start.The Storm players have there hands on there heads.Both teams are making multiple handling errors.

77 min: NEWS - Preston Campbell puts up a bomb.It comes off Amos Roberts hand as it goes over the sideline.

FULL TIME: NEWS - Scott Hill makes a break the man outside goes in field as he throws an offload to nobody.He curses as the full time siren rings throughout Penrith Stadium. A thrilling game of football comes to an end. There was plenty of mistakes but the Storm showed plenty of heart as they came back strong. It truely was a game of two halves. The final result: Penrith 30 defeated Melbourne 26