Carlisle gained some bragging rights for the club after playing second best to Penrith at first and second team level this season.
It came from the women’s team, the Cougars, as they saw off their Penrith counterparts, the Panthers 34-22 in a friendly fixture at Warwick Road.
The Cougars were missing a few key players but were pleased to get in a game to enable some new players, who haven’t played any matches, to get in some game time.
It also allowed the hosts to try out a number of changes of position in different combinations and left the distinct impression they have depth to their squad.
The game had started fast and furious with both sides putting in some big tackles, and in the opening 20 minutes neither defence would budge never mind how much pressure was put on them.
The Panthers finally opened the scoring after Caitlin Wood put a clearance kick deep down field and a good chase by Josie Scrimgour saw her kick ahead again just before the Cougars could gather it. Breanne Kelso was also chasing hard and she managed to scoop up the ball and touch down.
Carlisle were strong in the pack and were quick to reply. After a few strong forward carries newcomer Cairlin Orr forced her way over to open their account.
Penrith responded well by scoring their second try, after a strong tackle by Di Hetherington made the Cougars spill the ball.
Bethani Fearns gathered and broke through the Carlisle defence before the Panthers were awarded a penalty. Helena Scullion took it quickly and offloaded to Fearns who went over to score.
Carlisle yet again hit back quickly responded, the Panthers momentarily switched off and the Cougars flyhalf Ash Hendrie walked through to score a try which she converted. A third try for Carlisle by centre Bethan Lloyd meant the hosts led 17-10 at half time.
After the re-start Penrith soon reduced the deficit. When Scullion kicked down field the Cougars receiver gathered the ball just in front of her try line but was quickly tackled by Polly Bowman.
Meg Phillips-Craig was next there and she turned her over and dived over to score.
Once again, however, the Cougars forwards started to build momentum, making yards with their strong carries. They used this pressure to tie in the Penrith defence and after a few such carries they moved the ball to the centre where Lloyd scored her second try and Hendrie converted.
The Panthers weren’t finished and their fourth try from Scrimgour was a bit special. She turned the ball over on her five-metre line and broke through the Carlisle defence, running 70 yards to score a try under the posts which was converted by Scullion. That was her 18th try in 11 games.
The game was nicely poised at 24-22 to the Cougars and had been an entertaining contest for those watching.
In the closing stages, however, Carlisle finished strongly and scored two more tries through Hendrie and student Emma Taylor, who was playing out of position at full-back.
The Panthers put in their best defensive performance of the season with forward of the match award going to 17-year-old Polly Bowman. Her work rate was phenomenal, in defence and attack.
Their back of the match, and the opposition’s player of the match, was Bethani Fearns, as she also excelled in defence and attack.
For Carlisle it was good to play in decent weather as in the previous encounter with Kendal they had to contend with sleet, rain and snow!
The Cougars farewell message to Penrith – “You are a good side and should do really well, in a league next season.”
