LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
The young Panthers faced a tough battle against the Bulldogs on a soggy Saturday afternoon at Parker St reserve, ultimately falling short with a scoreline of 10-0.
Right off the bat, the Bulldogs took the lead with a slick move by five-eighth Joseph Teaupa, leaving the Panthers scrambling to catch up.
Despite a missed conversion, the Bulldogs took an early 4-0 advantage.
The Panthers fought back, making their way into attacking territory and putting pressure on the Bulldogs with a well-placed grubber kick.
Taye Cochrane managed to trap the Bulldogs in their own in-goal area, forcing them to defend their line.
However, a penalty allowed the Bulldogs to regain momentum and Teaupa nearly added to the scoreline, only to be denied by an obstruction call.
As the game progressed, errors crept in and the Bulldogs took control of the field, but the Panthers' defense held strong in the face of adversity.
Hokafonu Lemoto made a noticeable impact when he entered the game, bulldozing through tackles and providing a sense of stability in the middle of the field when the bench players were on.
Despite the loss, the young Panthers showed resilience and determination, proving that they have what it takes to compete at this level.
They'll look to bounce back stronger in their next outing, ready to take on whatever challenges come their way.