Sad farewell for Tongue 
Penrith have spoiled Alan Tongue's home farewell with a 19-18 victory over the Raiders in their clash at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night.
It was a scrappy contest which reflected both team's lowly ladder positions but the Panthers won on the back of stiff defence and making the most of their chances in attack.
They got off to the perfect start when Brad Tighe darted down the touchline and set up Luke Walsh under the posts in only the fifth minute.
fter bungling a couple of half-chances, the Raiders hit back in the 21st minute when Josh McCrone slid across field, dummied and went over himself.
The Raiders started to gain the ascendancy but blew a chance for field position when Josh Dugan failed to find touch after a penalty on half way.
But they took their chances with four minutes left in the half when Alan Tongue picked up a loose ball and dove over to score in his last ever home match.
Two minutes after the break the Panthers levelled the scores when Tighe poached a bomb from Canberra winger Reece Robinson to score and Walsh added the extras.
But in the next set it was Walsh who failed to find touch and Josh Dugan ran the ball back to halfway. To add insult to injury, Trent Waterhouse was injured in the Dugan tackle.
The Raiders had a mountain of possession but failed to capitalise, twice losing the ball ten metres from their tryline and Dane Tilse was held up over the line.
They were made to pay when the Panthers scored against the run of play with a disjointed but remarkable try.
Blake Austin made a break from inside his own half, passed inside which was knocked down by Tongue but bounced into the arms of Coote, who passed to Austin who found David Simmons alone on the wing.
A Walsh field goal with 11 minutes left made the task all that harder for the Raiders, who hung in there valiantly.
They gave themselves a remote chance when Mick Picker scored with just over one minute left but it was a case of too little, too late.
Panthers 19
Tries: Walsh, Tighe, Simmons
Goals: Walsh 3
Field goal: Walsh
Raiders 18
Tries: McCrone, Tongue, M. Picker
Goals: Croker 3
Source: sportal.com.au
Topic: Sad farewell for Tongue
