Penrith bounced back from their poor showing in their first game of the season with a resounding 48-7 home win over Douglas from the Isle of Man.
It would not be an easy day for the visitors though, crossing the Irish Sea on Saturday morning, travelling up the M6 to Penrith and then only arriving 20 minutes before kick-off – hardly ideal preparation.
The start was delayed but the home side were soon into their stride, a clean break by Jay Rossi enabled him to release Jamie McNaughton who took play into Douglas territory where they were penalised.
The penalty was kicked to the corner and JJ Key secured the line-out ball from where the forwards drove over the line for Scott Lancaster to touchdown. Mike Fearon converted.
One of many bruising runs by Key set up the home side’s second score after he took play up to the visitor’s 22.
From the breakdown the ball was zipped quickly wide by the backs for Steve Cherry to cut back inside the cover to score.
Douglas then got themselves into the game and Penrith conceded a couple of penalties to give them field position and they ended up being held up over the home line.
A poor clearance kick then from the home side was allowed to bounce about and was then snapped up and the defence were caught napping as they conceded a soft try which was converted.
From the re-start Penrith won turn-over ball and Lancaster beat a couple of defenders before setting Jamie McNaughton away. He then fed Jay Rossi who cut back in to score a nice try which Fearon converted.
They soon pulled their lead out further after Key made 20 yards off the back of the scrum, breaking from number eight.
Ed Swale was in support and quick hands then put Cherry in space and he scored his second try in the corner.
In the final ten minutes of the half the home side might have scored a couple more tries but they turned around with a handy 26-7 lead and the game was good as won.
From the re-start Penrith put early pressure on the visitors who conceded a penalty that was kicked into the 22.
Although the line-out was not perfect Penrith were able to get good ball to McNaughton who beat his man on the outside and scored from just outside the 22.
Penrith’s next try was to come from Josh Dowson who was fresh off the bench.
From a Douglas scrum in their own 22 Swale was able to disrupt possession at the back so the ball ran loose.It was pounced on by Dowson who used his pace to beat two men to cross for the score.
The Cumbrians scored next after Dan Richardson stole the ball at the visitor’s line-out. Fearon hoisted a cross-field kick where McNaughton won the ball in the air and despite the close attention of his opposite number was able to twist and spin over for his second try.
Penrith’s final score came after a barrage of attacking drives by the forwards with Fraser Nicolson to the fore now at scrum half switching attacks.
It was eventually Andy Muir who barrelled over for a well deserved try and topped off a good home win which put their points difference into positive territory.
