Match Details
Match Date	24th May, 2010
Opponent	Penrith
Result	Loss 16-31
Coach	Kevin Moore
Captain	Andrew Ryan
Venue	Penrith Park (CUA Stadium)
Crowd	11,278
Referee	Ben Cummins Matt Cecchin

Penrith will enjoy a rare view from the top of the competition ladder after a hat-trick of tries to winger Michael Gordon helped the Panthers over-run Canterbury 31-16 at CUA Stadium on Monday night.

Gordon contributed 22 points via three tries and five goals and had plenty of solid performers around him as Penrith powered home for a convincing win.

The Panthers sit on top of the table with St George Illawarra and Gold Coast heading to the halfway point of the season, enjoying a place at the summit for the first time since Round five of the 2004 season.

That was also the last time the Panthers figured in the finals, but they are well on their way to ending that drought.

Missing State of Origin reps Petero Civoniceva, Luke Lewis and Trent Waterhouse, Penrith was far too slick for the similarly under-manned Bulldogs

The hosts led 16-4 at the break and maintained the intensity in the second half to remain in complete control.

Penrith's good night started before kick-off, with major sponsor Sanyo signing up for another year.

Things only got better from there, the Panthers taking just nine minutes to post first points.

Andrew Ryan stuck out his right leg to block Luke Walsh's grubber but only succeeded in knocking the ball into Tim Grant's path.

The big prop showed great agility and composure to reach down, pick the ball up and travel 10m to crash over for his first try of the year.

Gordon's conversion made it a six-point lead.

The Panthers then hit a bit of quicksand, failing to build on their early lead as the Bulldogs clawed their way back.

After 22 minutes Canterbury almost took full advantage of Penrith's casualness through a freakish effort by Josh Morris.

The centre leapt from behind the dead-ball line to claim a Blake Green grubber, only to be denied by video referee Tim Mander who correctly ruled Morris had not re-entered the field of play before touching down.

Nine minutes later the Dogs got the try their endeavour deserved, albeit by a convoluted route.

Ben Barba's bomb was batted back by Green to Gary Warburton who offloaded to Yileen Gordon wrapping around.

Gordon showed great presence of mind to put in an inch-perfect grubber for Steve Turner to score.

But two Michael Gordon tries inside the final five minutes of the first half swept the Panthers out to an 18-4 half-time lead.

Penrith put further distant between it and the Bulldogs with a try to skipper Shane Elford after a Walsh bomb was spilt right on the goal-line

Morris could have bridged the gap in the 53rd minute but was denied a certain try through some brilliant work from Gordon.

Living up to his nickname of 'Flash', Gordon came from nowhere to pull Morris down on the line and jolt the ball loose.

Ryan gave the visitors a glimmer of home when he surged past Travis Burns to score on the hour.

But the captain's delight soon turned to disgust when he coughed up possession and saw Michael Jennings street 60m downfield with Morris in pursuit.

Morris rounded up his man but not before Jennings sent an inside ball for Gordon to race away for his third try.

At 30-10 it was all over for the Dogs.

Shane Neumann picked up his first try in Canterbury colours with five remaining before Walsh iced the victory with a late field goal.

Source: Sportal

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