Game of three thirds in Penrith vs Glossop

Arran Pamphilon dives for the line to score Penrith’s fifth try under the posts. Picture David Nattrass

People often talk about games of two halves but Penrith’s 41-24 win over Glossop certainly wasn’t that.

This absorbing North One West game was actually a game of three thirds!

Penrith were virtually unplayable in the opening third. They scored three quality tries down the left wing but then lost the plot.

In the middle third, either side of half-time, they were awful. They couldn’t do right for doing wrong, made a rash of bad decisions and let a workmanlike Glossop side right back into the game.

Then in the final third they got their mojo back and scored another three excellent tries and ran out comfortable winners.

The visitors were first on the scoreboard though with a fourth-minute penalty after some good pressure in the home 22 but for the next quarter of an hour, it was all Penrith.

Dan Richardson won them a quick quality line-out ball on the visitors’ 22. It was run up in midfield and when coming out wide Mike Fearon hit debutant winger Ben Brookes with a long flat pass that put him away on the outside. He was faced with the full-back but stepped inside him at pace and scored a nice try.

Ben Brookes on his debut for the 1st's cuts back inside the full-back to score the first of his two tries. Picture: David Nattrass — Ben Brookes on his debut for the 1st’s cuts back inside the full-back to score the first of his two tries. Picture: David Nattrass

Within four minutes Brookes had claimed his second try. Richardson was again involved, running the ball up in midfield and the recycled ball came quickly to Fearon.

He made a smart, clean break on the halfway line, and when he only had the full-back to beat drew him in, giving Brookes, on his outside, a clear run to the line.

Mike Fearon breaks clear before passing outside to Ben Brookes for his second try. Picture David Nattrass

Quick reactions and speed of movement by young debutant flanker Archie Rattray got the Cumbrians on the front foot again when the visitors’ stand-off fumbled the ball. He was on him in a flash to win the ball which was then kicked through to the Glossop line.

The home forwards piled in and were penalised but Glossop’s attempted kick to touch landed short and Sam Dudson fielded it on the touchline.

He ran the ball back and linked with George Graham, who in turn released Brad Taylor and after half beating his man found Jamie McNaughton.

The Penrith centre then stepped back inside at speed leaving three defenders in his wake to go in under the posts. He had now taken over the kicking duties and his conversion meant Penrith led 17-3. It was beginning to look like a rout but the game then changed.

Andy Muir who had another good game doing a lot of the hard grunt running the ball up hard. Picture David Nattrass

Penrith were still creating chances but they weren’t getting finished. A wonderful break by Arran Pamphilon went to waste and if they thought Glossop were going to implode they were wrong.

They gifted possession to the visitors when they overthrew a lineout on halfway. Immediately after they conceded a penalty on their 22 and had to defend a line-out on their own line.

This was an open invitation to the visiting forwards who were up for an arm wrestle and they worked a very slick move from their throw and the resulting converted try made the half-time score of 17-10 look a little close for comfort.

The second period started no better. A steepling up and under was allowed to bounce and a number of penalties were conceded.

These invited the Glossop forwards, once again deep into the home 22, where they muscled their way over. The conversion levelled the scores.

Penrith did then improve somewhat, a McNaughton penalty steadied the nerves as they got their noses back in front.

Josh Winder then won turn-over ball which came quickly to McNaughton in broken play and his break was able to take play deep into the visitors’ 22.

Jamie McNaughton was able to attack a gap in the defensive line to score the first of his two tries. Picture David Nattrass

A home knock-on gave the visitors the put in to the scrum. A nudge by the home pack and a steal by Graham gave possession back to the Penrith forwards and Adam Howe crashed over for his second try in two games.

Penrith now had their tails up. A quickly taken penalty and run by Graham set up Pamphilon to go in under the posts and then a break and nicely timed pass by Pamphilon saw McNaughton go in under the posts.

Glossop’s resilience earned them a third try as they kept plugging away but the Penrith coaching staff were more than happy and they now have a couple of weeks to prepare before travelling to local rivals Carlisle.