Canterbury Bulldogs beat Penrith Panthers in NRL

Moses Mbye's??second try of the match and a conversion from NRL debutant??Kerrod Holland with the last kick of the game??completed a rousing fightback from??Canterbury Bulldogs as they beat??Penrith Panthers 18-16 at Pepper Stadium on Thursday.

The Panthers were beaten by??Canberra Raiders in their first game of the season last Saturday, but looked set to respond with a victory when they raced into a 14-0 lead with just over 20 minutes on the clock.

Early tries from Peta??Hiku and??Sam McKendry put the Panthers on course for a first NRL win under??Anthony Griffin, with Jamie Soward converting both scores and also slotting over a penalty.

But a well worked try from??Will Hopoate got the Bulldogs back in it and Mbye added the extras to reduce the deficit to eight points at half-time.

Another Soward penalty increased Canterbury's advantage, but halfback Mbye went over on the hour-mark and then completed a double with a great finish??right at the death to allow??Holland to make it two wins out of two for??Des Hasler's men.??

The Panthers were celebrating 50 years in the NRL with a match against the team they met in their??first competitive game, but the Bulldogs spoiled the party.