A missed opportunity and a comeback for the ages were the big talking points of an absorbing Round 22 of the NSW Intrust Super Premiership over the weekend.
At Panthers Stadium in the SWR League Saturday Match of the day, the Penrith Panthers came from the dead to stun the Wyong Roos 36-32. Having been down 18-0 and then 24-12, the Panthers looked all at sea against a committed and aggressive Wyong outfit. However the Roos leaky defence (2nd worst in the league) came to the fore as the Panthers scored with just 40 seconds to go to pip their Central Coast rivals 36-30. For the home side, Adam Keighran was again a standout as was tough tackling hooker Wayde Egan. Luckily for Wyong both Blacktown and North Sydney suffered defeats over the weekend.
North Sydney might be ruing their missed opportunity as they lost to 10th place Wentworthville at home by the tune of 36-32. The Bears were sorely off the pace in the first half with a heap of missed tackles and bad reads in defence hurting the Bears.
A gallant comeback in the second half (they scored five tries in the last 15 minutes) wasn’t enough to reel in the Magpies who have now joined the finals race. The Magpies were aided by the inclusion of brilliant Fullback Bevan French who organised the attack for the Magpies brilliantly.
In the rounds other fixtures: Canterbury continued their charge towards a top 4 berth with a thrilling 24-22 defeat of the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles at Brookvale, Newcastle stunned the Warriors in New Zealand 20-4 and Western Suburbs won one of the matches of the season in Canberra 31-30 over Mounties who have now slipped to 4th.
In the SWR League match of the day on Saturday we will be live on RADIO! From 1pm we will have a full call of the vital clash between the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles and St George Illawarra Dragons. With top 8 and top 4 spots on the line, this game will not disappoint. Tune into the radio call all over Sydney via 99.9FM or online via SWR999.com.au/SS1.
In the other games over the weekend: Penrith have Newcastle at Panthers Stadium, Wyong travel back home for a blockbuster clash against the Wests Magpies, Newtown and the NZ Warriors tussle in the Inner West at Henson Park, the Bears travel to Belmore to tackle the in-form Bulldogs and Mounties will look to get it’s Premiership chances back on track against the Wentworthville Magpies which is the last chance for the Magpies to keep its season alive.
