Panthers snatch win on fulltime

The Tupapa Panthers team’s patience and consistent pressure held them in good stead against the powerful Arorangi Cowboys who dominated Saturday’s main match.

But when it counted, the Panthers showed their championship quality to snatch the game from the Cowboys 23-22 at Raemaru Park right on the final hooter.

The Panthers’ winning try came via a contested Cowboys line out ball snatched by captain Kore Herrmann and at the ruck, Panthers busy Fijian Aseli Manuqila exploited the undefended blind side driving the ball close to the try line before lock Anthony Pepe carried the ball over the chalk right on full time.

But before the Panthers found their feet – the game was dominated by the solid Cowboys pack who lead the game 13-3 at the half time break and 19-3 midway through he second half.

The Panthers’ mid second half 21-point revival started with tries from their impressive pack of forwards including lock Anthony, who scored a double and the other came via the teams never-say-die captain Herrmann who together with first five-eight Turori Matutu, rallied the troops together in the final stages of this match for come-from-behind Panthers win.

Although the Cowboys dominated at scrum and lineout time, it was the Panthers’ rolling maul, pick and go and overall speed to the breakdowns that proved most effective with all three Panthers tries being scored by their forwards.

The Cowboys will be wondering just what happened after they squandered their 19-3 mid second half lead and no doubt fitness and depth off the bench are sure to raise questions if the Cowboys are to be serious 2012 contenders.

Best for the Cowboys were their youngsters first five-eigth and halfback Basil Matapo, who played impressive rugby including a clever drop goal that had the Cowboys camp in celebration mode early in the second half of the game.

Cowboys utility back/forward Robert Heather Jnr was also impressive in the senior A game and the match was both Heather and Matapo’s second full game of the day after both played starring roles for their under 19 grade in the earlier match.

Although the Panthers win was all down to team work – there’s no doubt that the leadership of Herrmann and Matutu was the glue for the side.

The senior A loss to the Cowboys was the only defeat suffered by the club at the weekend with the remaining age grade teams winning all their games including the grassroots under 13 team who defeated the Panthers 45-12 followed by a 47-26 win to the under 16 Cowboys and final 24-10 win to the under 19 Cowboys.

The match ups between the Panthers and Cowboys were the only fixture at the weekend as all other games were postponed out of respect for the late Albert Nicholas.