Match Details
Match Date	30th May, 2004
Opponent	Penrith
Result	Loss 29-40
Coach	Steven Folkes
Captain	Steve Price
Venue	Penrith Park (Penrith Stadium)
Crowd	19,856
Referee	Sean Hampstead

 Penrith left it late but it was worth the wait as they beat the Bulldogs 40-29 in one of the games of the season at Penrith Stadium.

The defending premiers ran in two tries in the last five minutes to snatch it and move to equal second spot on the National Rugby League ladder, ahead of the Bulldogs.

In the clash at Leichardt Oval, Wests Tigers outclassed Parramatta 33-6.

The Panthers' win was made even more memorable by the fact that they went into the match without playmaker and skipper Craig Gower and lost halves combination Ryan Girdler and Preston Campell during it.

Penrith hooker Luke Priddis was outstanding, making 36 tackles, setting up two tries and scoring the first himself.

Bulldogs captain Steve Price was inspirational for his side, making 24 tackles and 11 hit-ups, while full-back Luke Patten scored a hat-trick.

The Dogs went to the break with a 25-18 lead but the Panthers turned it around in the second half, lifted by their home fans.

The crowd provided a great atmosphere for the players to work their magic and with Priddis providing big plays in both attack and defence the Panthers finished the stronger of the two sides.

The match was a topsy-turvy but frantic affair, with Patten scoring first for the Dogs before Priddis and Luke Lewis answered for Penrith.

Two more for Patten put the Dogs back in front but the Panthers were level when intercept king Girdler snatched a wide pass from Bulldogs half-back Brent Sherwin to scoot away for a try.

But he tore his hamstring in the process, forcing him out of the remainder of the match.

The Bulldogs had the last laugh in the half with a Willie Tonga try, Hazem El Masri sideline conversion and Braith Anasta field goal.

The Panthers however were back within a point when Trent Waterhouse scored and Campbell converted five minutes into the second half.

The Bulldogs gave themselves some breathing space with a simple Sherwin try two minutes later from an Anasta grubber, only for Danny Galea to answer for Penrith nine minutes later.

Campbell's conversion attempt missed and the home side trailed 29-28.

The pint-sized half, normally utilised at five-eighth but playing in the number seven jersey for Gower, was then forced from the field with a knee injury and Penrith's hopes of winning seemed to be slipping.

But they dug deep and took the lead with five minutes to go, Waterhouse bagging his second and Amos Roberts, who had moved to half-back, converting.

Joe Galuvao put the icing on the cake in the final minute and Roberts added the extras as the siren sounded in the background. 

Source: www.abc.net.au

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