Penrith claw in to down scrappy Eels

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Parramatta Eels v Penrith Panthers

The Penrith Panthers have come away with a low-quality win over the winless Parramatta Eels, 12-6 at ANZ Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

In a game that offered as many sin-binnings as it did tries, Penrith kicked off the scoring with a penalty goal after just four minutes.

Josh Mansour got the tryscoring started - crossing for the Panthers' only four-pointer of the day after 20 minutes. Maloney's conversion had the Panthers ahead 8-0, a lead that was extended by another penalty goal at halftime to 10-0.

That wasn't all the first half held - senior players from both sides were sent for ten in the bin for professional fouls. Trent Merrin (6th minute) and Tim Mannah (20th minute) both got in the way of quick taps inside the ten and were summarily dismissed. The benefit was Penrith's - the Mansour try coming just moments after Mannah had departed for the sheds.

To the Eels' credit they came out firing in the second half with George Jennings getting the Eels' only try just four minutes after the resumption of play - the game then descending into a dour, error-riddled contest and pedestrian attack.

The scorers were only troubled once more when James Maloney pushed through a 79th-minute penalty goal to see the Panthers finish 12-6 victors.

Next week Penrith host the Titans, while the Eels are on the road to visit the Raiders in Canberra.