Panthers too slick for Sea Eagles

The Penrith Panthers have crossed for three tries in an eight minute period in the second half tonight, to spark a 22-12 victory over the Manly Sea Eagles at Pepper Stadium in front of 11170 vocal fans.

In a touching tribute before kick-off, players and fans alike, stood to applause the marvelous life of Penrith born cricketing legend Richie Benaud, who sadly passed away yesterday at the age of 84.

Both teams went into tonight's contest after losing key players Peter Wallace and Brett Stewart to injury. It was the home team who seemed to adapt best though, surging out of the blocks with a try to blockbusting winger Josh Mansour in the 3rd minute. Mansour dived over in the corner after a sweetly timed cut out pass from fullback Matt Moylan.

Moylan curled the ball beautifully between the posts from the sideline to give his team an early 6-0 lead.

Penrith looked on top early in the contest, but Manly crawled their way back into the match and after forcing back to back sets in attack, eventually hit back with a try to interchange forward Justin Horo in the 25th minute, who swooped on a neat little grubber from five-eight Kieran Foran to score.

Fullback Peta Hiku leveled the scores up at 6 all with his conversion.

Both teams threw plenty at each other for the remainder of the half including some heavy hitting defense, with centres Jamal Idris and Steve Matai in particular raising the intensity with some crunching tackles.

Manly would end up taking a slender lead into the break with a penalty goal to Hiku just before halftime giving the visitors a two point advantage heading into the sheds.

Both teams competed hard in the opening part of the second half, but it was Penrith on the back of three straight penalties who scored to regain the lead through Mansour's second try of the night in the 58th minute. It was man of the match Moylan who again created the try after wrapping around the back to create the extra man and send his winger over. Moylan missed the conversion leaving the scores at 10-8.

That try opened the floodgates for the home team, with the raw talent of Fijian flyer Waqa Blake the next to score in the 61st minute and fill in five-eight Api Koroisau scoring the try of the night in the 66th minute.

Koroisau's try came after prop Sam McKendry burst through the line and created some second phase play which would see the ball go through several sets of hands out to the right before eventually coming back towards the centre for Koroisau to burst through next to the posts.

The conversion from Moylan gave the home team an imposing 22-8 lead heading into the latter stages of the game.

Manly did cross for a try to Matai in the 72nd minute, giving them a glimmer of hope, but Penrith held on for a ten point victory to get their season back on track after suffering three straight losses previously.

Both teams will be sweating on scans in the coming days on a couple of their injured players, Manly for Jesse Sene-Lefao and Tom Trbojevic and Penrith for Jamal Idris and Elijah Taylor, who both suffered what looked like bad knee injuries.

Next week, the Panthers will head North for a Saturday afternoon match against the Gold Coast Titans. While Manly, on the back of their fourth straight loss which left them glued to the foot of the table, will face a tough test against the Canterbury Bulldogs on Friday night at ANZ Stadium. A match under fire Coach Geoff Toovey will surely be desperate to win.

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Matt Moylan
2 points - Josh Mansour
1 point - Jake Trbojevic

PENRITH PANTHERS (22)
Tries: Josh Mansour (2), Waqa Blake, Apisai Koroisau
Conversions: Matt Moylan (3/4)

MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (12)
Tries: Justin Horo, Steve Matai
Conversions: Peta Hiku (1/2)
Penalty Goals: Peta Hiku (1/1)

Welcome to Leagueunlimited's coverage of this all important Round 6 match up from the foot of the mountains. Both of these heavyweight contenders from last year will be looking to end a three game losing streak to put their season back on track

LATE MAIL PANTHERS - Isaac John comes in as halfback to replace Peter Wallace who is out with a knee injury. Brent Kite is a late inclusion in the run on side with Sam McKendry dropping back to the bench and Bryce Cartwright dropping out of the 17. Nigel Plum will run on in the second row for Isaah Yeo who will play off the bench.

LATE MAIL SEA EAGLES - Peta Hiku shifts to fullback to cover Brett Stewart who's out with a groin injury, however Steve Matai returns from injury in the centres. Jake Trbojevic will join his brother Tom in the run on side with Luke Burgess playing from the bench.

Elijah Taylor will captain the Panthers & Matt Ballin/Steve Matai will co captain the Sea Eagles tonight

1: Were underway with the home team getting 1st use of the footy

2: A solid 1st set with John driving it down field on the last

3: DCE kicks on the last with Moylan bringing it back. Penalty Penrith & they will get their 1st chance in Manly's half

3: VIDEO REF possible try to Mansour...

3: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Josh Mansour. Kick to come.
GREEN LIGHTS. Mansour has scored in the corner off a lovely cut out pass from Moylan

4: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Matt Moylan successful.
Moylan from the sideline nails it from his favorite touchline!

6: Penalty Panthers & Moylan pulls their pants down busting through from a quick tap but Segeyaro spilt the pass

6: UNFORCED ERROR MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Peta Hiku makes an unforced error.
Hiku loses it in the ruck, Penrith on the attack

7: Segeyaro grubbers through but the ball rolls dead

8: DCE bombs it high on the last but Moylan is cool at the back taking it comfortably

9: Mansour finds some room down the left & chips inside but Hiku cleans it up for Manly

10: Foran goes close to scoring after picking up the scraps from a DCE bomb but loses it whilst trying to wrestle his way over

11: A good kick from Segeyaro out of acting half finds the line 10m out from Manly's line

12: Penalty against Penrith for hands in the play the ball. Manly ball on halfway

13: Foran chips across field on the last but Taylor cleans up the loose ball. A penalty to Penrith now & they have it just short of halfway

15: Penalty Manly. Tom Trbojevic with a lovely take up high is dragged into touch after the ref called held

16: Watene-Zelezniak cleans up the bouncing ball from DCE's bomb

17: UNFORCED ERROR PENRITH PANTHERS
Josh Mansour makes an unforced error.
Mansour drops it 30m out from his own line. Manly scrum

18: DCE crunched by Segeyaro!

18: Tom Trbojevic knocks on trying to score off a kick

19: Segeyaro spills it looking for someone to pass to

20: Penalty Manly after a good charge from Matai draws to much attention from Penrith trying to slow it down

20: Penalty against John for a high shot on Matai

21: Foran grubbers ingoal & Moylan forces it dead, repeat set for Manly

23: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Justin Horo. Kick to come.
Horo dives onto another Foran grubber into the in goal

25: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Conversion attempt by Peta Hiku successful.
Hiku takes the goal kicking duties tonight and slots it over from next to the posts

25: Young Tom Trbojevic has limped off with an ankle injury

26: Idris has absolutely smashed Cheyse Blair into tomorrow!!

27: John chips it deep into the corner & Blair who must still be seeing stars brings it back

28: Foran kecks down field & Moylan brings back over his 30

29: Another good kick from John makes Hiku bring it off his own line

29: Drop ball Manly & Penrith are on the attack

30: Koroisau chips for the corner but Symonds cleans it up for Manly

31: DCE kicks deep under pressure, Penrith working it out from their 20

31: Hiku takes a high one from John

33: Peachey with a huge break down field but Watene_Zelezniak drops the pass with the line wide open!

34: Foran settles things down finding the line to give everyone a well earned breather

36: Hiku brings it back to his 30 after taking Johns kick

37: Moylan again takes it safely but he makes a meal of the play the ball giving Manly a golden opportunity before halftime

38: Penalty Manly, not square at marker from Penrith & Manly will shoot for two..

39: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Penalty goal attempt by Peta Hiku successful.
Hiku from close range edges his team in front

40: & that will do us for the 1st half. Both teams look committed to the task tonight. Penrith looked on top early but Manly clung on to grind their way back into the contest. Stay tuned for the 2nd half, with a bit of fine tuning in attack, this one could end up a cracking game of footy!

41: Back underway & Hiku brings it back from the kickoff

41: Both teams are completing their sets early in the half

41: Foran kicks high to the corner but Moylan takes a jumping catch

41: Idris proving hard to bring down, bumping away defenders

44: A good kick down field sees Manly working it off their own line

45: 6 more for Manly after Watene-Zelezniak knocks down Matai's pass with an unmarked man on the outside

46: Penalty Manly & tempers are fraying..

46: Idris with a big hit, up & in on Foran

47: Repeat set, DCE grubbers through & Moylan saves the day grounding it in goal

48: UNFORCED ERROR MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Peta Hiku makes an unforced error.
Hiku with a sloppy play the ball releases the pressure valve

50: Campbell-Gillard loses it in the play the ball after some good pressure in defense from Manly

51: A Foran grubber eventually goes into touch after coming off Blair. Penrith scrum on their 10m line

53: Big Willie's having plenty to say in the scrum & everyones enjoying a bit of humour mid game

53: Elijah Taylor looks to have an injury concern leaving the field

54: Penalty Penrith, they have it 5 short of halfway

54: Another penalty against Buhrer & Sao for lifting in the tackle

55: Another penalty, Penrith building pressure

56: Idris is down clutching at his knee after nearly charging over...

57: Hes up & about now, but leaving the park. Penrith still on the attack

58: Koroisau grubbers in goal to earn a repeat set with Hiku booting it dead

57: Penalty Penrith & they will keep the pressure on

58: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Josh Mansour. Kick to come.
Mansour dives in for a double with Moylan again throwing the last pass after wrapping around in attack

60: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Matt Moylan unsuccessful.
Moylan shaves the right upright in missing

61: Penalty Penrith with momentum firmly on their side at the moment

62: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Waqa Blake. Kick to come.
TRY for the raw talent of Waqa Blake in his 2nd game running onto a short ball from Peachey

63: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Matt Moylan successful.
Moylan gives his team a handy 8 point buffer

64: mansour with a charging run down the left

65: Penrith swarming in defense

65: Watene-Zelezniak brings the kick back to his own 40

67: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Apisai Koroisau. Kick to come.
McKendry with a big charge through the line gets second phase play going with the ball going through several sets of hands before Koroisau burst through to score

68: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Matt Moylan successful.
Moylan makes no mistake from close range

69: Manly try a short kickoff but John cleans it up, but Watene-Zelezniak makes an error in the play the ball

70: Matai spills it on the end of a sweeping back-line movement from Manly

69: ruled a Manly feed though..

70: VIDEO REF possible Manly try

70: No try, Jake Trbojevic held up

71: Repeat set with DCE grubbering to force the drop put

73: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Steve Matai. Kick to come.
Try for Matai after Blair managed to pop a ball out the back for his centre to score

74: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Conversion attempt by Peta Hiku unsuccessful.
Hiku misses to the right but Manly still have a sniff in this one

75: DCE kicks to the corner with Moylan bringing it back

76: Segeyaro chips for his winger but the ball rolls into touch off Watene-Zelezniak

77: 6 more for Manly after Peachey got a touch on the ball

78: Foran chips for his winger but Watene-Zelezniak cleans it up, line drop out for Manly though

79: Buhrer spills it trying to run through a hole

80: Peachey gets tackled into touch, Manly scrum 30m out

79: UNFORCED ERROR MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Steve Matai makes an unforced error.
Matai knocks on

80: FULLTIME at Pepper Stadium with the home team getting their season back on track. Thanks for joining us tonight folks, stay tuned for our match report to follow.