Latest News• Add My News • Search Old News Gippsland › Latest news › Gippsland Portal Local NewsPanthers are again the Yardstick!Round 3 of Gippsland Rugby League Round 2 of Gippsland Rugby League was played at Traralgon last Sunday and the host team in the Traralgon Panthers took on the East Gippsland Brumbies in the early match. With top spot going to the victors, there was certainly no love lost in the early exchanges with both packs going head to head right from the start. With both teams managing tries early, the possession game was critical to success, and with both teams sharing this aspect of the game, a great contest was developing. The Panthers got the early break, but the Brumbies refused to lie down and another try kept the game within a try. The Panthers managed another before the break which gave them a 26 – 16 lead at the break in a thrilling contest. The second half proved no different to first. With both outfits sharing the possession, an enthralling contest was witnessed by all who watched, and whilst trading blows throughout the half, the finishing qualities of the Panthers proved to be the difference. The Brumbies did everything right in defence and were aggressive in attack, but putting the ball over the line proved their only hurdle. The Panthers were able to hold the Brumby attacks, and when possession and good field position came their way, they capitalised by putting the points on the board. The Brumbies would be disappointed with the loss, especially with only 8 second half points, but the polished skills of the Panthers saw them rack up a further 22 points to take the match 48 – 24 in a fantastic contest. The Brumbies are improving every week, and when they can get a full tilt of players on the park, they will be very tough to beat. The Panthers on the other hand, it was business as usual and they have again established themselves as the team to beat in 2001.The late game was between the Gladiators and the Miners, and with both teams struggling with numbers and form, another good contest was expected. The game began with both teams making unforced errors which resulted in plenty of Scrums and broken play. Morwell settled the better, and with solid work through the forwards, the backs had the momentum required to get over the line and post the first 2 tries. The Gladiators answered however, and when they managed to maintain some possession, they looked dangerous in attack. Sure enough, the tries came and the confidence in the Churchill outfit was proving a handful for the Miners. Morwell turned the tide however, and the final 10 minutes of the half saw them have a mountain of possession, and hence the scoreboard ticked over to 34 points for the half to Churchill’s 10. The second half was not dissimilar to the first. The Miners, whilst looking far from brilliant, kept the pressure on and one by one, the tries came. Like the early game, the Gladiators were certainly up to the contest, in terms of intensity in both attack and defence, but the ability to put the ball over the line was the only difference. Up until the last 10 minutes of the match, both teams shared possession, both teams scored tries, and both teams had patches of dominance, but the Miners finished off its work a little better, and the final score read Morwell 66 to Churchill 24, in an entertaining encounter. The Gladiators are boasting a host of new players who will get better week by week, and with players to return, they will be very competitive as the season progresses. The Miners are still short on numbers but have managed to stay competitive to date. As the injuries unfold however, they could well find themselves in all sorts of trouble if numbers do not improve. The ladder after round 3 is as follows, but there is not much to be read from it at this early stage.
This week, the League travels to East Gippsland where Round 4 will be held at the Paynesville Football Ground. The Morwell Miners will have the daunting task of taking on the Hosting Brumbies in what is arguably, the toughest ground to win on in the League. You can be sure the East Gippsland team will have plenty of numbers in their first Home game, and there supporter base will enjoy the travel free weekend. The second game will see Traralgon and Churchill clash at 3pm. Kickoff is Sunday, 1pm, at the Paynesville Football ground. Yours in Rugby League - Mark Strini - President. Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: grl@gippslander.com
|
|
 | Baw Baw |  | Bass Coast |  | Cardinia |  | East Gippsland |  | Latrobe City |  | South Gippsland |  | Wellington |
|
© 2001-2025 gippsland.com
Print this page |
Subscribe to Newsletter |
Feedback / Inquiries |
Login |
Care has been taken in compiling the component parts of this website. However, Gippsland.com does not warrant or represent that the website is free from errors or omissions, that the qualifications claimed by an advertiser are valid or that the published details of any advertiser are as stated on the website. Please review the full statement of our Terms and Conditions of Service and disclaimer.