Penrith’s young side had performed well in the first two games of the Papa John end of season competition but they went out after losing 64-31 at Moortown.
They did well enough in the first half, despite not being at their best but the second half proved 40 minutes too many against a very good side.
They had lost by a single point at Bowdon despite scoring more tries and then had a creditable home win against a big experienced Morpeth team.
They then matched Moortown try for try in the first half, scoring four apiece but the home side got well on top in the second half.
The hosts ran the ball well and always looked dangerous in possession and Penrith gifted them too many turnovers and poor clearance kicks which they gratefully took advantage of and ran the visitors ragged in the second half.
The home side led within five minutes of the start, scoring from an attacking line-out. But Penrith came straight back with Archie Rattray winning line-out ball close to the home line. Scott Lancaster, Andy Muir and Adam Howe all went close before George Graham spotted the gap for the equalising score.
The hosts weren’t long in retaking the lead with a second try from an attacking line-out but again the visitors came straight back. Hooker Craig Price again found Rattray jumping at the front of a five metre line-out and when they set up the driven maul Lancaster attacked round the short side and Arron Cavaghan was on hand to dive over in the corner.
The Cumbrians were then turned over running the ball up after the re-start and the defence took a smart dummy and the line break led to an easy try.
The Cumbrians again bounced straight back and had Joe Spencely to thank for keeping them in contention. A penalty deep in the home 22 was flipped up to him and he bounced off a couple of tacklers before barging over.
The pattern continued and the home side scored again running back a long clearance kick and taking advantage of the poor chase.
To their credit the visitors again came straight back. They were having the better of the set scrums and opted for a scrum when the home side were penalised on their own line.
Rattray broke from number eight down the blind side and when stood up set up the ball for Cavaghan who scored his second try in the corner.
Penrith trailed 26-24 at the break and the game looked evenly poised but the home side stepped up a gear in the second half.
They scored two quick tries straight after the break and Penrith were always on the back foot after that. Very little went right for them after that and the home team took full advantage of every mistake they made.
They scored six tries in the second half but the visitors never gave up and did manage one more score, a Cavaghan break got Rattray close enough to the line to wrestle his way over.
It may have seemed a shame to end such a successful season on a negative note but those three final games had given the younger fringe players a chance to show their worth.
They have certainly done that and laid down a marker for being included in the larger squad that will be needed next season.
It doesn’t take anything away from the fact David Preston’s side had achieved what they set out to do at the start of the season, winning the league and cup double.
