Penrith recorded a bonus-point win, 27-26, against a good Vale of Lune side but could count themselves rather more than fortunate.
They had not played for four weeks due to the festive break and also because they did not fly to the Isle of Man following coronavirus advice – and it showed.
The Cumbrians got off to a good enough start, after having to defend close to their own line in the opening minute.
They got good field position deep in the opposition 22 where Vale had the put into the scrum on their own line.
The ball was struck cleanly enough by the visitors but the Penrith eight shunted the scrum backwards and made life difficult and the ball ran loose where Josh Dowson was sharp enough to break from number eight and steal the ball to score.
Vale came back immediately when awarded a penalty on the 22 straight after the restart.
They kicked to the corner and although they could not score with the catch and drive from the line-out they put the ball through the phases and Penrith were penalised again this time under their own posts.
The penalty was taken quickly and they broke the home defensive line in the corner. The conversion came back off the post and the score was tied.
However, Vale’s try seemed little more than a minor irritant as the home side opened up and had scored three tries in the opening quarter of an hour.
Brad Taylor set his side up for their second try as he broke out of his 22 to halfway where George Graham continued the momentum.
Matty Boustead try and Fearon conversion
Lee Chapman was then able to release Matty Boustead who found himself in a bit of space and was able to weave his way at some pace to the line. Fearon converted.
Graham again was heavily involved in the next try. There was a bit of uncertainty on halfway and while one or two waited for the whistle Graham was off. He looped a pass to Mason Lewthwaite who bulldozed his way deep into the 22.
The ball then moved right to left as the forwards kept driving for the line and were getting ever nearer but it was Graham who spotted the gap and forced his way over and Penrith led 17-5.
They then lost Lewthwaite to injury, who had been influential to this point. Whether it was this, or subconsciously they thought they had already done enough to win the game, but they now went into their shell for long periods.
Vale now had lion’s share of possession
Vale now had the lion’s share of possession and made good use of it. They looked dangerous when they spread the ball wide and scored two more well-taken tries before half-time and led by two points courtesy of an extra conversion.
The home side were no better for the first 20 minutes of the second half. They would be lucky if they had 25% of possession and their game was error-strewn and played in their own half although they had the advantage of the strong wind.
The game then changed after Graham got them out of jail with a lung-bursting try-saving run to get to a hacked through ball first.
The ball was cleared to halfway where the defending winger spilt the ball into touch and was that annoyed he kicked it away when Penrith tried to take a quick throw.
Jamie McNaughton, with a following wind, put the ensuing penalty right in the corner and home spirits were lifted.
Penrith now had their tails up and mounted several attacks. They were held up over the line after a momentous drive by Andy Muir, but went straight back at the visitors from the drop out under the posts and won a penalty under the posts.
Lead extended to five points
This was taken quickly and Muir again stormed the line. He didn’t quite make it but Graham was on hand to claim the score and Fearon’s conversion pushed the lead out to five points.
Vale, who had seemed happy just to hold onto their half-time lead, now opened up the game and looked ever more dangerous.
Penrith had Arran Pamphilon to thank for their next score as he made a tremendous tackle on the visitor’s centre as he tried to break from his 22. He was isolated and Vale conceded a penalty as they tried to hang onto possession.
Fearon’s boot put the home side eight points to the good and they were all needed as Vale had a storming finish to the game. They ran the full length of the field to score a fine converted try and Penrith were hanging on grimly at the end.
