Penrith did what they had to do in their local derby game against Keswick and came away with a bonus point win and a much improved points difference.
That was courtesy of a 92-20 victory against a Keswick side without six of their regulars.
They had to take it on the chin and prepare for a more meaningful trip to Stockton on Saturday which is a real relegation battle.
Although outclassed Keswick stuck at it until the end with the late replacements all doing their bit to stem the tide.
The plastic Winters Park pitch allowed the game to go ahead despite the winter weather and as it was the only game played in the division the home side moved above Morpeth albeit that they’ve played a game more.
They now lead them by a slender four points and now have a marginally better points difference.
The visitors had the first scoring chance of the game but their penalty attempt slid wide, and the Winters Park men then took their first opportunity.
Jamie McNaughton fielded a poor clearance kick and although he initially looked to run it then angled a clever kick towards the corner which Mike Fearon gathered at full tilt and touched down.
Penrith were penalised at the restart and the visitors kicked the goal through Steve Holloway to move within four points.
The home side were next to score after opting for a scrum when Keswick were penalised on their 22.
In a move off the training pitch Archie Rattray picked and went from number eight to feed George Graham, who drew his man and slipped the ball to Nick Dudson and he did similar and put young Rob Coward away into the overlap they had created to run around by the posts to score.
The home side were then almost immediately pinged for crossing and Holloway’s successful kick pulled them back within a score.
Penrith weren’t long in extending their lead. Graham made the break and had Scott Lancaster on his shoulder who finished off the move and ran in to score.
Almost on the stroke of half time Arran Pamphilon was up sharp and took an interception to run in without a hand being laid on him.
Keswick’s favoured attacking move was the cross field kick and this earned them a penalty try on 40 minutes when Fraser Nicolson deliberately knocked the ball on to avoid the score and got yellow carded for his troubles.
James Thompson had also just been yellow carded for the home side being the unfortunate player who received the team card after they had conceded a string of penalties.
So although Keswick trailed 33-13 at the break they would start the second period against 13 men.
It didn’t work out that way as the home side scored three tries in the opening ten minutes. Ben Higgens finished of a team try after a number of phases and Rattray then profited from a quickly taken Graham tap penalty.
Graham’s quick tap also led to the next try scored by Sam Wilson, fresh off the bench. The visitors now had the added problem of Wilson and Mason Lewthwaite coming off the bench with a point to prove.
Andy Muir had scored against his old club before Keswick mounted their first meaningful attach of the second half and scored from close range through Christian Selles after kicking a penalty to the corner and winning the lineout. Holloway converted.
It was a credit to both sides that with the game being over as a contest for some time they both continued to give it their all.
With starting places to play for the home side scored another five tries.
A Lewthwaite break set up Fearon for his second; Coward also scored his second after some mazy running; Pamphilon took the restart kick and scored running the ball straight back thanks to an audacious dummy; Fearon with his third try and McNaughton with his second completed the scoring on a long afternoon for the visitors.
