Panthers guts out win

The Penrith Panthers have produced a gutsy performance to win their fourth match of the season beating the Canberra Raiders 18-10 in Canberra.

For the second time this season the Panthers followed up a victory on Monday night with another the following Saturday, but it wasn't all pretty with a clearly tiring Panthers outfit struggling to hold the Raiders out late in the match.

Twelve handling errors cruelled the Raiders' chances with the last, only moments after they'd pulled back to within two points, proving fatal.

After trailing 12-6 at the half-time break the Raiders dominated possession in the second stanza but couldn't put points on the board. When Justin Carney flew high to grab a Terry Campese cross field bomb with six minutes to play a come from behind victory looked on the cards.

But an error in their own territory following the try gifted Penrith possession and Geoff Daniela did the rest; diving on a Luke Walsh grubber to score his second for the night to secure the win.

Jarrod Sammut's kicking boot was pivotal, converting all three of his kicks from difficult angles.

The Raiders shot out of the blocks and were unlucky not to score when winger Adrian Purtell's 5th minute effort was turned down by the video referee.

No such problems four minutes later when left winger Carney stripped the ball and raced 70m to score under the posts. Josh Dugan's conversion gave them a 6-0 lead.

But errors crept into the Raiders game and Penrith were quick to seize the momentum. After repeat sets the Panthers put boom centre Michael Jennings into space off a scrum and he showed his class beating two defenders to score. Sammut's conversion had it all level after 19 minutes.

The Panthers continued to control the tempo of the match and grabbed the lead seven minutes later when Daniela scored in the right corner after catching the Raiders short. Sammut calmly converting for a 12-6 lead.

The visitors looked to be in total control at the thirty minute mark with double the possession and almost went in again minutes later only to spill the ball near the line.

The Raiders had a late chance in the half when a well worked Alan Tongue penalty catching the marker out gave the Raiders good field position. A timely grubber earned the Raiders a line drop out. With time running short in the half and Sammut in no rush to take the drop out, the Panthers were penalised for time wasting.

But the Raiders attacking machine was struggling to gel and they were unable to capitalise on the penalty ten metres out directly in front.

The Panthers were rocked by the loss of Jennings only three minutes into the second half with an ankle injury that will have the NSW selectors worried, but his opposite number Joel Monaghan offered some solace making three line-breaks of his own in a strong second half.

The Panthers head into their bye fighting for a top eight spot on 8pts while the Raiders will be licking their wounds on their week off after a horrible 2-6 start to the season.

Panthers 18
Tries: Geoff Daniela 2, Michael Jennings
Conv: Jarrod Sammut 3

Raiders 10
Tries: Carney 2
Conv: Dugan