BLACK CATS TAMED

12 years! It’s been 12 years since our NSW Cup team have defeated the Penrith Panthers at the Panthers home ground and on Sunday we did it. For the first time in a while, the boys came out focused and firing and took the early lead leaving the black cats to try and chase them down. Reviewing the teams ins and outs prior to the game, the Panthers named a healthy squad of NRL experienced players. With Melbourne Storm also battling injuries, Bears received just one player in from Storm, Dean Ieremia, while two young guns were given their NSW Cup debut in the red & black. With almost ten minutes gone in the first half, the ball sweeps quickly to the wing, finding Kieran Hayman who slides past the defence to get the Bears on the board. Hayman converts his own try and the Bears lead 0 – 6. Six minutes on and the Bears are attacking the line again that sees Israel Ogden muscle his way followed by Hayman again converting and the lead extended to 0 – 12 prior to the 20 minute mark. The red & black worked hard at excellent set completion, forcing opposition errors and immense strength in defence for the whole of the first half. The team hit the sheds in the lead 0 – 12.

The second half brought a rejuvenated Panthers side who took the early points bringing the scoreline close for the first time since kick off 6 – 12. Bears retaliated only minutes later when Allan Fitzgibbon puts on the afterburners to outpace the black cats down the sideline and slides over the white line. Hayman again converts and the score extends to 6 – 18. Just after the 52nd minute a dangerous tackle is ruled, giving Hayman the opportunity to add the two points, which he easily does. Over the following ten minutes, Panthers take control and run in two tries, one converted and nudge the score closer with only a four-point buffer 16 – 20. Under two minutes remaining on the clock, another penalty is ruled on from another dangerous tackle. Again, Hayman adds the two points and the Bears take the 12 years in the making win at 16 – 22. The team song was sung with great passion after the game!

A proud Pat Weisner, Head Coach, commented post game “Our most complete performance of the season. To travel out to Penrith’s ground and nil them in the first half was outstanding. We probably left a couple of tries out there in the first half, 12 nil didn’t really reflect our dominance”. He went on to say “In the second half we probably played with one eye on the clock and one on the ball which stifled our attack but our defence stood firm again and it was a great result”. “Ben Stevanovic was outstanding in executing the game plan and his running game was fantastic. KDL played 73 mins straight in the middle and led from the front as always, while Matt Stimson was great against his old club”. Weisner beamed.

Looking ahead to the game this Saturday, Weisner said “The short turnaround into the Jets away is tough on our young squad and the Jets are in great form with 6 wins in a row. The Sharks NRL have no injuries so this will definitely be the toughest game we face all year but our guys keep turning up with great attitudes and are enjoying the taste of these wins so we will be ready on Saturday, before a much-needed Bye”.