Panthers slay Cowboys

Defending club rugby champions the Tupapa Panthers remain unbeaten after slaying the Cowboys 33-17 in the weekend’s top of the table clash at Victoria Park.

In a highly entertaining 8-try match it was the experienced heads of the Panthers ultra-busy number 8 Kore Herrmann and ‘electric’ utility back Turori Matutu that lead the way for the Panthers win in front of an ecstatic home crowd.

The expected dominant Cowboys forward pack did not eventuate as the Panthers forward pack remained competitive throughout this match with their lineout ace Herrmann constantly disturbing and sometimes winning the opposition lineout ball which severely hampered the Cowboys supply-chain.

The Cowboys also lost two players to the sin bin at crucial times which certainly didn’t assist their cause either.

The Cowboys set the scene when in the 3rd minute of play scoring a long-distance try via the teams impressive flanker Waisoi Karalo, who popped up twice in a sweeping team movement after a rare Panthers handling lapse.

The Panthers soon replied with tries to classy midfielders Louis Moemai and Kairan Mahia to lead at the halftime break 12-10.

In the 2nd half a resistant Panthers forward pack constantly applied pressure and were rewarded with tries to Herrmann who scored a double and big lock Andy Tautu running onto a nice ‘short-ball’ from locking partner Anthony Pepe to score 2nd half tries for the Panthers against their more-fancied opponents.

Bests for the Panthers were action men utility back Matutu, number 8 and captain Herrmann and big lock Andy Tautu whose physicality in the contact area was crucial for the Panthers forward pack.

Bests for the Cowboys were workaholic lock Mike Crouch, front rower David Heather and midfield back Tariu Tairea who lead his young backline all day.

In other senior A grade games at the weekend the Avatiu Eels defeated the Takuvaine Reds 28-12 while the Ngatangiia Dragons trounced their country cousins the Titikaveka Bulls 22-13.

This coming weekend marks game four of the first round of the rugby competition and will see the Avatiu Eels host the Tupapa Panthers in the match of the week while Arorangi will host Titikaveka Bulls and the Takuvaine reds and Ngatangiia Dragons rumble.

Full results: Panthers vs Cowboys (Panthers scores first) – Under 13 grade 0 vs 52, Under 16 grade 15 vs 39, Under 19 grade 10 vs 7, Senior A grade 33 vs 17, Eels vs Reds (Eels scores first) – Under 13 grade 40-0, Under 16 grade 5-43, Under 19 grade 37-17, Senior A grade 28-12, Dragons senior A grade 22 vs Bulls senior A grade 13.