The Panthers NYC side have finished strongly this evening to register a 54-30 victory over the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium.
The young pups got within two points early in the second half but the young men from the foot of the mountains ran away with it at the back end of the match.
There was just one change to the side named earlier in the week with Kyle Krisanski-Kennedy coming into the side with Tuuta Langi the man to be omitted.
It took 10 minutes for the first points to be scored with Krisanski-Kennedy going over off the back of a smart move out to the right. The centre went over in the north-east corner and with the kick from out wide, Brendan Cox couldn’t convert with the score staying at 4-nil.
The Panthers were quick to answer back with lock forward Brendan Attwood crossing in the 13th minute. Five-eighth Jarrod Brackenhoffer converted to put the visitors in front 6-4.
It was Dujuan Liolevave who went over in the 22nd minute off a similar move to the first try. Again it was a shift to the right that ended in the hands of the right winger who had too much pace and managed to get the ball down before going into touch. Cox converted on this occasion to put the Bulldogs back in front 10-6.
That is where the fun ended for the Bulldogs with the Panthers running in four tries in 13 minutes to stamp their authority on the match. Brackenhofer, back rower Chris Smith, centre Tyrone May and winger Joshua Jay all crossing. Brackenhofer converted all but one of the tries giving the young Panthers a 28-10 lead at the half-time break.
The second half started exactly the same way it did in the first with the young pups registering the first points of the half. It was Tautalatasi Tasi who went over in the south-east corner. Brad Keighran was on the field and beautifully converted from the sidelines to close the gap to 28-16.
With the weight of possession the young pups were able to cross in the opposite corner with Krisanski-Kennedy going over for his second try of the night. It was a Shaun Lane break that started the piece of play and sent his winger into open space. Keighran couldn’t convert with the score staying at 28-20.
Tasi doubled his account for the night in the 53rd minute and with the try converted, the Bulldogs were with two points but unfortunately that’s where it ended for the blue and whites with the Panthers running rampage to finish off the match, registering a 54-30 victory.
PANTHERS 54 def. BULLDOGS 30
