panthers10

It was crunch time for the 91 Panthers, 3 points out of the Top 4 and still
recovering form the devastating loss last week against the Cicardas on
Grass. It was such a bad loss that only 3 players were able to make it to
the post match function, the others were obviously at home licking their
wounds.

Team mood dropped on discovering that we had been place on the furthest
field out the back, probably a reflection of the poor form in recent weeks.
It does not take long to get shunted off the show courts. But it lifted
again when the phone call came in that Mick Azar had flow in from Ireland to
make his triumphant return to the touch footy field. Mick has never played
on a losing Great Rugby League side and is actually 3rd on the all time
tries per game stat (IH you have too much time on your hands). We took the
field against Mt Bingar with no reserves but we knew that back up would be
there soon. The first five minutes the Panthers consolidated their position
well, playing smart footy and completing their sets of six. Scozza, another
player making his return to the side, led the way with some great charges up
the middle and quick dumps.

But then came the harshest penalty in the history of the game. Rowdy, who
struggles to make to the early games at the best of times, had bolted from
the signing shed the length of the park. He made what turned out to be a
fatal error by cutting the final corner of the field to join the reserves'
bench. Even though play was at the other end of the field, we penalised for
having 8 players on the field and marched 50m down field. Needless to say
they scored off the next set of six and once again it looked like we were
offside with another ref. The rest of the first half was pretty uneventful
with the Panthers letting in 2 more soft tries (I can't actually remember
what happened but not doubt Freddy was out of position). The Flying Dutchman
actually got over the line but was called back for a "Phathom Touch". The
highlight being Micky Azar adding to his try tally off a brilliant short
ball from the Flying Dutchman.

The half time talk was all positive and the boys new they were still in this
game, It was decided that Boring should involve himself more as he was in
the form of his life. He scored two tries for the Coach & Horses only two
days prior.

The second half started brilliantly with Bongs smokin down the short side,
linking up with Azar and then onto the Dutchman who goose stepped past the
final defender to score. The score was now 2-3 and Mt Bingar was not looking
so hard to climb. They were looking tired but the Panthers yards men were
doing the job, led by Bubbles and Boring. Brandy was turning them around
with his trademark darts out of dummy half.

The try to level the scores was under controversial circumstances after
Azar's pass looked to have been completed after he had been touched. It was
probably a square up for the earlier harsh decision. But quick thinking by
Brandy after the opposition had come to a stand still, I think they had
their hands on their heads, to pass out to the Flying Dutchman who scored in
the corner.

Now for once it was the opposition that was blowing up at the ref and I
think they got on the wrong side of him. Soon afterwards Freddy finally made
his injection into the game, throwing a dummy which to the amazement of
everyone on the field they fell for. After taking a couple of seconds to
realise what he had done he managed to stroll the 5m to score. This put the
Panthers in front for the first time in the game.

There was only 4 minutes to play but the Panthers knew that hey couldn't
just hold on. The last period saw them camped on their own try line. Mt
Bingar did get over the try line but where called back after a Phathom Touch
by the Dutchman, a square up for the earlier one. But after about 5 sets of
the defence cracked and they scored off a luckily pass. Scores were now
locked at 4-4. The Panthers had one more throw of the dice but were unable
to cross as the full time siren sounded.

The draw leaves the Panthers with a "Waratahs" chance of making the Semis
but it could all come down to the final round against the competition
leading Raiders.