Panthers thrash Bulldogs 40-10 in NRL

A powerhouse second-half display from controversial forward Frank Pritchard has helped Penrith to a crushing 40-10 NRL win over the Bulldogs at CUA Stadium.

Pritchard, playing his first match of 2007 after a thumb injury sustained in a street brawl for which he is facing charges, was in everything, scoring a try in the 55th minute and being placed on report for a high shot on Bulldogs lock Reni Maitua in the 64th.

The Panthers scored six tries to one while centre Mick Gordon booted eight goals from eight attempts, outshining Dogs sharp shooter Hazem El Masri who still managed to take his current tally of successive goals to 28.

Going into the break up 14-4 after a scrappy first half, the Panthers grabbed the territorial advantage in the second half, the passes began to stick - just - and the home side put on two tries in two minutes to rush out to a 26-4 lead by the 55th minute.

Trent Waterhouse scored a classic lock's try in the 53rd when he crashed over from the base of a scrum before Pritchard completed some good lead-up work from Paul Aiton and Craig Gower to have the crowd of 16,652 in full voice.

The Dogs fought back to 26-10 when captain Andrew Ryan crashed over on the back of a penalty in the 65th minute.

But late tries to outstanding Panthers second-rower Tony Puletua and fullback Rhys Wesser, who earlier had come up with four fumbles, embarrassed the visitors.

A try on debut to Penrith centre Michael Jennings had helped the Panthers to their halftime lead.

Speedster Jennings grabbed an opportunist's four-pointer in the 36th minute when he pounced on an error from rookie Bulldogs halfback Ben Roberts and toed through twice before diving over.

Penrith had held on to it long enough to post the first try of the match in the 25th minute when five-eighth Peter Wallace sliced through from 10m out and Mick Gordon's conversion gave the home side a 6-4 lead.

An early caning in the penalties from referee Ben Cummins had helped the visitors out to a 4-0 lead.

The Panthers conceded five penalties to one in the opening 13 minutes, allowing Dogs goalkicking maestro El Masri to bring up 2000 points in all grades for the club with his first shot.