Penrith’s Under-15s girls are through to the RFU Girls Regional Cup final after beating Morpeth 34-10.
Although the final score looks comfortable there were challenges to overcome and tense moments when the game was in the balance.
They have a home tie for the final as they will entertain Sandal Girls on March 6.
Tries by Caitlin Padgett (2) Evie Holme (2) Katie Smith and Matilda McTear. With 2 conversions by Maebh McGrath.
After finishing second in their group the Penrith girls had to travel to Morpeth for their regional semi-final tie and it started badly.
From the drop out by Amber Beaty the home side passed well to give their winger a chance to show excellent pace to break and beat the cover for an excellent 70 metre try.
Penrith settled and a fine rip in the tackle by Chloe Brown gave Lili Thompson-Parry a chance to break and gain territory and confidence.
The first try came from a Thompson-Parry turn-over at the tackle, from which scrum half Charlotte Harnwell moved the ball to prop Sofia Hellevik whose powerful burst gained 20 metres.
From the breakdown Harnwell and Leila Robinson moved the ball well to centre Evie Holme who used the overlap to score from 20 metres.
The second try soon followed as Beaty ripped the ball in the tackle and got the ball away to winger Caitlin Padgett who used her pace and step to fly home from 50 metres and establish a 10-5 lead.
From the kick-off it was Padgett again who ran in for, probably, the best try of the game. After a drive by Katie Smith quick ruck ball saw Harnwell and Beaty link well for centres Robinson and Holme to make ground and release Padgett who went under the posts from 30 metres. Maebh McGrath converted.
Penrith were on top and looked likely to score whenever they moved the ball, realising that pass before contact was the best tactic.
The next try came after several carries and rucks were won before the backs moved the ball wide. Lock Lily Salmon made ground 30 metres out and off-loaded to her second-row partner Matilda McTear who showed her pace to score a fine team try.
Morpeth came back into the game and gained more possession, especially at the tackle area and from penalties. They created an opportunity on the blindside with the Penrith defence not able to react in time as their winger showed good pace to score in the corner.
The bigger home forwards continued to drive down the middle but the defence, led by some big tackles from Hellevik and number eight Penny Robinson limited any gains and Penrith led 22-10 at the break.
Now Penrith turned round to play up the hill on the main Morpeth pitch and for the next 20 minutes the game was in the balance as the home team had most of the possession and territory.
Penrith’s tremendous defence, with the whole team committed, kept them out. Full back Eimhear McGrath was a reliable tackler when any home players got through the defensive line and Neve Winder and Lily Salmon put in noticeable big tackles.
A score then by the home team would have made the game very interesting but the nerves were calmed when Rebecca Newby and Robinson won good ruck ball.
Then with 12 minutes left Harnwell and Brown created an opportunity for Katie Smith to take a pass at speed, break two tackles and throw a hint of a dummy to the Morpeth full back before speeding over under the posts for McGrath to convert.
Newby was gaining ground every time she had the ball and was unfortunate not to score as she was brought down 10 metres out by a high tackle after a 50-metre break.
Holme had crossed in the corner from an excellent team move only for the ball to be dislodged over the line but soon after more fine handling saw Beaty pass wide and she was not to be denied this time for the final try.
