Tyrone Peachey

Both teams went toe-to-toe with the other and pushed each other all the way and ultimately, it was a 1-point margin that decided the clash between the Penrith Panthers and the Canberra Raiders.

In the end, a late field goal from veteran Peter Wallace was the difference but it was not without controversy.

Never one to shy away from voicing his opinion, Raiders coach Ricky Stuart was left seething at the no-call decision on an obstruction during that play.

“There’s a rule in place where you’re not allowed to have blockers to impede a player that is chasing to block a field goal,” Stuart said.

“We had a player that was impeded by two blockers.

“We were impeded by a wall of players. That’s a rule that you’re not allowed to do anymore.”

For the better half of 50 minutes, the Panthers were the team making better opportunities and making the most of them, before the Raiders late flurry got them back into the contest.

With two late tries to tie things up at 18-all, the Raiders continued to attack the Penrith line but it held firm.

Although the Penrith attack deserted them late in the second half and lacked fluidity, it was the calmness and experience of Peter Wallace that proved vital.

With a couple of minutes remaining, the ball came to him and cool under pressure, he slotted it home to give the Panthers a 19-18 win at Bathurst’s Carrington Park.

By his own admission, the game itself was scrappy but Penrith captain Matt Moylan was pleased that his side wrestled back momentum.

“It was a bit scrappy,” Moylan said.

“We didn’t complete many sets that whole second half.

“Lucky enough we sort of swung that around at the end and knocked the field goal over.”

Although their attack was not as fluid as last week, Stuart was pleased with how his side bounced back.

“We didn’t execute a few things as well as we can but the way we worked ourselves back in the game and got in a position to win was terrific from my point of view,” he said.

Player of the Game:

3. Tyrone Peachey
2. Joey Leilua
1. Jarrod Croker

Penrith Panthers 19 (Cartwright, Peachey, Hiku tries; Soward 2 goals, Wallace field goal) defeated Canberra Raiders 18 (Vaughan, Rapana 2 tries; Croker 3 goals) at Carrington Park.

By ricky

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