LeagueNews.co | Nick Loken
The NSW Cup Panthers suffered a tough defeat against the North Sydney Bears on Sunday afternoon at BlueBet Stadium, with penalty goals ultimately proving to be the deciding factor in their 22-16 loss.
Right out of the gate, Isaiah Iongi showed flashes of brilliance with the ball in hand, his powerful runs posing a threat to the Bears' defensive line.
Despite the Panthers' early efforts, it was the Bears who struck first with a well-executed play that resulted in a try by Jake Toby and Kieran Hayman on the left flank.
The successful conversion put the Bears ahead 6-0.
The Panthers' inability to capitalize on opportunities and costly errors allowed the Bears to maintain their momentum, with Israel Ogden breaking through the Panthers' defense on the left side to score another try.
The successful conversion extended the Bears' lead to 12-0.
The Panthers found themselves on the back foot, forced to defend against relentless pressure from the Bears in the opening 20 minutes of the match.
Despite a valiant effort, the Panthers were unable to overcome the Bears' lead as penalty goals sealed their fate in a hard-fought contest.