The hosts were always playing catch up football against the Magpies as the visitors turned up ready to play from the outset, returning to Cowra with a 24-10 win to their name.

"We were too flat. All our plays came too early and too far out from the line so they had plenty of time to slide in defence. The kicking game was terrible and there wasn't enough energy," Panthers coach Mick Carter said.

"It's frustrating but they're all frustrated in themselves as well. Players just aren't hitting the line hard enough and they look flat footed.

"It won't get any easier this week because Lithgow's been travelling well. Then there's the bye before Blayney so we're out of action for two weeks. It could freshen them up but who knows?"

Panthers gave away the opening penalty late in a Magpies set and it gave Cowra the chance to score the opening points, which they took through a converted Luke Kinsey try.

Oliver Kemp came close to finding a quick reply for the Panthers but the winger was pulled into touch less than a metre shy of the try line.

Kinsey nearly made the hosts pay for that missed opportunity in the 13^th minute, reaching out for the try line and losing the ball just before he could plant it down.

The game continued to go end-to-end for some time until a 40-20 from Panthers gave them a golden opportunity to get on the board before half-time.

Fullback Keeghan Clayton found space to score the team's first points and a great conversion from Jackson Carter made it 6-all.

Cowra got the opening points of the second half when Panthers were caught napping on a Magpies bomb, allowing Mitch Amos to kick the ball further downfield and chase up his effort with a try.

Amos was in again just moments later when the Magpies found an overlap on the left wing, pushing the score out to 16-6.

A successful one-on-one strip gave Panthers the sniff of a comeback, as Kemp finished off the ensuing set with a try down the right sideline.

Magpies quickly put a stop to those ambitions when Clayton was sent to the sin bin with seven minutes to go - for slowing down the play-the-ball - and Cowra halfback Tom Negus kicked an easy penalty goal for an 18-10 advantage.

The visitors put the icing on the victory when a line break from Magpies fullback Charlie Jeffries deep in his own territory helped set up five eighth Ryan Carroll for a try in the final minute.

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