U13's show glimpses of what's to come in 2019

On a dry Sunday morning at Panther Park the U13's entertained Folly Lane in what should have been a good test for both teams prior to the season start. A good opening few minutes from the Panthers saw them get the first points on the board with some quick play and fast hands from Seddon and Sherrington putting over Swarbrick on the left hand side to finish what was a straightforward opportunity with Wilding adding the extras. The game from that point on failed to gather any momentum and with the referee keen to test his new whistle out for the 2019 season it became a very stop start affair. Folly came up the pitch off the back of errors and penalties from the Panthers and levelled the score at 6 - 6, before a similar pattern emerged and they scored again to make the score 6 - 10 to the visitors at Half Time. The emphasis on building momentum and playing at pace was the main theme during the half time team talk for the Panthers and that is exactly what made the difference in the second half of the game. Woodward started the wheels in motion with some great returning of the ball and after playing into a good position the Panthers struck early in the second half with Cardoza using a combination of footwork, pace, sheer determination and strength to plough through the defence from 30 mtrs out, Wilding converted and the Panthers went in front 12-10. On the front foot the Panthers upped the tempo and again from good position they attacked the Folly Lane right edge from 50 mtrs out, this time Bolton taking the ball to the line before a sublime pass put Swarbrick into space to sprint in under the posts, Wilding again converting to make the score 18-10. The game slowed a little but the Panthers fitness and line speed in defence started to apply pressure to the visitors. It was then that Seddon produced a great read and intercepted a pass from 30 mtrs out from the Folly Lane line to clear away and place the ball down under the black dot, Wilding adding the extras for a comfortable 24-10 lead. The game restarted and strong carries again from Woodward, Dunn and Swarbrick provided a great position for Cardoza to score his second of the day, using a great left hand fend to good effect not once, not twice, but three times to crash over on the right hand side from 20 mtrs and put the game to bed for the Panthers with the final score reading 28 - 10 to the home side. It was a good hit out for both teams played in the right spirit that showed some glimpses of what the Panthers are looking to do in 2019. Next week the U13's entertain Leigh East at Panther Park in what promises to be a tough encounter.