LeagueNews.co | Nick Loken
In a gritty battle between the NSW Cup Panthers and the Dragons at BlueBet Stadium, the Panthers unfortunately came out on the losing end.
The Dragons' front row combination came out swinging, with Alec Tuitavake setting up a try for Joshua Coric who bulldozed his way over the line.
The conversion was successful, putting the Panthers down 0-6.
Just like in the earlier Jersey Flegg game, the Dragons wasted no time in extending their lead with another try, showcasing some slick backline moves before Ravalawa powered through the defense to score.
The Panthers tried to regain control of the game, throwing everything they had at the Dragons' line, but couldn't find a way through.
Despite some penalties going against them, the Panthers' defense held strong and prevented the Dragons from running away with the game.
However, the Dragons' left edge came alive as Lykhan King-Togia and Hayden Buchanan combined to set up Christian Tuipulotu for his sixth try of the season.
The conversion was unsuccessful, putting the Panthers down 0-14.
A late crash play right before halftime saw Tom Freebairn crash over for another Dragons try, extending their lead to 20 points.
The conversion was successful, leaving the Panthers with an uphill battle in the second half.
Despite their best efforts, the Panthers couldn't claw their way back into the game and ultimately fell to the Dragons.
It was a tough loss for the Panthers, but they'll regroup and bounce back stronger in their next game.