Penrith travelled to Cockermouth for their final warm-up game before the season starts for real with a trip to Stockport on Saturday and came away with a 41-5 victory.
They could be satisfied with the final score but it took them a while to get the better of the opposition and only when they began to tire and use all their bench.
Cockermouth, from the League below their visitors, gave an excellent account of themselves, were clearly up for it and matched their visitors physically from the off. The Penrith forwards, although they more than matched their opposite numbers, never really dominated them.
Behind the scrum it was different though as the visitors showed much more pace and class, especially at half back, where Ed Swale and George Graham, who shared the scrum half role, linked up with stand-off Mike Fearon to some effect.
The game was played in four quarters and the first was very hard fought with both sides being fresh and there was little to choose between them as they both got stuck in.
There was only one score and it was half backs Graham and Fearon who combined to get Jay Rossi into space. He still had a bit to do and finished well.
Penrith started the second period well and spent a long time in the home 22 but couldn’t quite finish off any of the chances they created.
They then conceded a try as Cockermouth raised their game and strung a couple of sweeping moves together to score a well-deserved try.
Penrith replied from a scum on half-way. JJ Key picked and went from number eight and made ground before finding Swale. He in turn put Fraser Nicolson into space who used his pace and set off on a mazy run to score a well taken try.
That was the second period tied at 5-5 and was about a fair reflection of the play.
The third quarter was rather calmer after the frenzied start to the game and the visitors were able to impose themselves on proceedings.
They scored two nice tries. Fearon linked with James Reynolds, playing in the centre, and he set-up Nicolson for his second score.
A scrum against the head in the home 22 provided the opportunity for the second. Scott Lancaster’s charge almost to the line left the defenders in disarray and then when the ball came to Fearon he picked his way through them to the line.
In the final section of the game Penrith had the run of things and were able to show off their ability in the backs.
They had a penalty in the home 22 which was taken quickly and immediately moved wide and Steven Cherry was one on one with his winger and was able to use his pace to go in the corner.
He would be especially pleased to score after a long break from the game with injuries, a knee operation and Covid.
A bullocking run from Matthew Allinson from a short ball from a scrum in his own half set up the next try.
He broke the first line of defence before Graham carried play into the opposition half and Tom Lindsay in support was able to finish the sweeping move.
A quick tap penalty and a broken field of play led to the final score as Rossi was able to take advantage of a scattered defence and run the try in from his own half.
