Round 19
Penrith Panthers 20 l. St.George-Illawarra Dragons 38

2007 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Gasnier makes solid return as Penrith now four points clear at last
Sat July 21, 2007
Australian International and Dragons superstar Mark Gasnier made a successful return from injury as the Dragons put away the Panthers 38-20 at CUA Stadium earlier tonight.

Penrith are now four points clear in last position and oddly enough all five of their victories have come against current top eight sides with two of them in Queensland, two at home and the other last week at Telstra Stadium. The Panthers on the other hand have lost to the Titans, Raiders, Roosters, second string Broncos and now the Dragons all on home soil. They have been one of the major disappointments this season and the miracle wonders of a former Panther now coaching at the Roosters will confine them to the dreaded wooden spoon.

The Dragons have been in good form of recent times except last weeks thumping by the Warriors and if the Wests Tigers can topple the Warriors at Campbelltown tomorrow than the Dragons will only be two points outside of 8th position - although their points difference is inferior to the Warriors, Sharks, Rabbitohs and Raiders of all the sides who are on 16 or 18 points at this stage.

Most of the discussion from this match on a Dragons point of view will be the return of Gasnier and he didn't let the Dragons down performing very solidly and showed why he's one of the three best centres running around in the game today alongside Greg Inglis and Justin Hodges. Dragons coach Nathan Brown selected Gasnier at five-eighth, but on occasions he ran wider with Ben Hornby filling the second receiver position.

Dragons halfback Jamie Soward may have been involved in two howling errors that resulted in Penrith tries, however, his presence and performace was dominating out there and is fastly shaping up as one of the best buys of the season - albeit coming mid-season. Soward has given the Dragons solidarity in the halfback position, which they haven't had since Trent Barrett was halfback in 1999.

The match had all the hallmarks of a high scoring affair with four tries in the opening 15 minutes. Penrith struck first with Michael Gordon scoring in the 5th minute and the Dragons followed up with two tries from well timed kicks to Jason Ryles and Jason Nightingale in the space of three minutes. Maurice Blair crossed in the 15th minute when Soward tapped back a Craig Gower cross kick only for the Dragons to muck it up completely with Blair on the spot to score.

It was all quiet on the scoring front after a frantic start until the final seconds prior to half-time when the Dragons turned defence into attack with Josh Morris backing up to score a 60m try showing the pace his father and former International Steve Morris had during his heyday at the Dragons and Roosters.

St George Illawarra led 16-10 at the break and extended their lead three minutes after the break when Rangi Chase scored a soft try from close range next to the posts.

Penrith mounted a comeback and was gifted a try in the 52nd minute when Chase Stanley when be tackled into touch threw the ball in desperation of keeping it in the field of play for Soward to muck it up and former Dragon and Rugby League's new motor mouth Richie Williams on the spot to score.

The Panthers were within a converted try and scored seven minutes later when Nick Youngquest timed his jump to perfection following a pinpoint Gopwer cross kick. Youngquest was unable to convert his own try with the Dragons up by two points.

Matt Cooper scored an impressive team try in the 70th minute to push the Dragons clear by six points and Soward's excellent conversion extended the lead to eight points.

Ben Creagh nearly sealed the match for the Dragons when he crossed three minutes later, but Soward's missed conversion kept the door open for Penrith.

Gasnier's class showed in the final seconds when he sliced through Penrith's defence and setup Nightingale for his second try.

The Dragons next week face the Bulldogs in Wollongong in what should be an interesting clash and one where the Dragons with Gasnier having an important game under his belt will be confident of an 'upset' whereas Penrith now need a miracle to avoid last position.

Only two horrific errors from the Dragons kept the margin at 18 points and last week's victory against the Bulldogs is now quickly forgotten as the problems at Penrith will begin to resurface. Panthers fans have every right to be angry at the players and coaching staff for the disaster that has been 2007.

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