A 29-20 defeat at Manchester was not the usual tale of woe from Penrith, coming back from an away game with their tails between their legs after an under-par performance.
They gave a good account of themselves in difficult conditions against a side in the top three of North One West and had they taken all their chances could well have won.
The wind and driving rain continued as the teams warmed up but when the game started the rain abated and the two sides only had the wind to contend with.
The Cumbrians had first use of the wind but did not start auspiciously, losing the ball the first time they took it into contact.
Then a poor clearance kick saw them under pressure deep in their own 22 and that allowed the home side to mount an attack at close quarters and the try followed within the first ten minutes.
It initially looked as if it might be another away day nightmare but the visitors slowly got into the game.
Brad Taylor looked dangerous running from full-back throughout the game and when he broke out of his own half supported by Jamie McNaughton Penrith won a penalty on the 22 which Mike Fearon caressed over assisted by the wind.
Fearon stroked over a second penalty after good work by Dan Richardson and the visitors had the slenderest of leads at 6-5 but they would need more playing into the gale in the second half.
They got their first try on the half hour. Sam Dudson fielded a clearance kick before Andy Muir had a storming run up the middle of the park and a delighted Adam Howe finished the move off from close range.
Fearon converted and Penrith maintained their eight-point lead until half time but did let a couple of chances go begging just before the break but they led by eight points.
The visitors were under severe pressure on their own line as they defended three attacking line-outs in quick succession.
When they conceded yet another penalty Richardson received a yellow card for pulling down the maul and then Manchester’s forwards with a man advantage scored in the corner from their next line-out.
Penrith bounced straight back and scored a converted try from the restart to re-establish their lead.
The home side had secured possession and fed the backs but the ball was mishandled and ran loose. Arran Pamphilon, who was huge in defence all afternoon, was first to it and ran in under the posts unopposed.
At the start of the final quarter Manchester scored two converted tries in quick succession which just about put the game to bed.
The visitors conceded a number of penalties which allowed the home forwards good field position and they took advantage of it and from the restart they scored again with a sweeping move that should have been shut down before it started.
The home side now led by six and Penrith strived for the converted try that would get them back into the game.
Marshalled by George Graham they made excellent inroads on a number of occasions but couldn’t quite add the killer blow.
Penrith looked to have at least secured a losing bonus point but with two minutes left on the clock conceded a penalty head on to the posts and that also sailed over so they came away empty handed.
They did, however, come away with their pride intact after playing on the front foot in a good, open, well contested game given the conditions.
