In a Nutshell
Penrith Panthers grabbed a late converted try to snatch an 18-16 victory against the Canterbury Bulldogs at Centrebet Stadium.
How it unfolded
The Bulldogs had looked to be in the driving seat until Kevin Naiqama scored a superb try in the corner from a cutout pass by Jamie Soward, with Matt Moylan adding a touchline conversion to win the game.
The star man for the Panthers was former London Broncos player Soward, whose kick was re-gathered by David Simmons, who fed Dean Whare for the opening try after five minutes. And Simmons gathered another Soward kick to score himself to give the Panthers a 10-0 lead, with Moylan’s conversion, after 20 minutes.
The Bulldogs began a fightback with a try by Trent Hodkinson, which he goaled himself, and the match was delicately poised at 10-6 at half-time.
The Panthers pulled six point ahead with a second-half penalty from Moylan, but then the Bulldogs drew level with a converted try from Corey Thompson and they took the lead for the first time on 70 minutes with a try by Drury Low in the corner that Hodkinson couldn’t convert.
Time looked to be running out for the Panthers until Naiqama’s amazing try right on full-time.
Full coverage of this weekend’s NRL games will feature in Monday’s issue of Rugby League Express.
