Monaro Panthers 0 def. by Riverina Rhinos 3 (Artur Rattel 53’, 56’, George Pavese 81’)

A big second half from the Riverina Rhinos helped them to a win over the Panthers on their first road trip of the 2018 season.

A double to Artur Rattel was complemented by George Pavese’s strike as the visitors pulled away from their opponents at Riverside.

Gabriel Abdala’s side came out strong and were unlucky not to score as they came up with a number of chances, including a couple for Pavese as he went close early.

Rattel was also proving dangerous and came close in the 29^th minute only for Mitch Weeden to come up strong in the Panthers goal.

Andrew Vitucci and Ally Macleod were both substituted just a few minutes before the half in a blow for the visitors, but both sides hit the sheds goalless after an enthralling first 45.

Rhinos began the second half in the same way as Luke Santolin charged forward but to no avail, however it was only eight minutes before they finally broke the Monaro backline.

Rattel was fed through into the area and he managed to finish from a tight angle to open the scoring and break the game open for his team. Shortly after Rattel stole the ball from a Panthers defender and fired home past Weeden to leave the hosts reeling with 33 minutes still to play.

Sam Smith was flagged offside after he thought he had clawed a goal back for the Panthers and Robbie Deeley had a good strike from a set-piece saved, but the game unraveled for the hosts entirely when Stefan Todoroski was dismissed for a second yellow card offence with only 13 minutes to play.

Pavese sealed the scoreline with a deft lob from the edge of the area inside the final five minutes, and when Ed McCarthy struck the post for the Panthers in the dying minutes it did well to sum up the day for the Panthers.

The result leaves Monaro in seventh place ahead of a meeting with the Rhinos in the FFA Cup on Wednesday, while the Rhinos are sitting pretty in third.