Penrith were beaten 64-17 at table-topping Blackburn in their latest Regional 1 North West test.
The Cumbrians’ young side were more than aware of the size of the task that faced them.
In their previous away game they had conceded over a hundred points at Rossendale and they had already been beaten by Blackburn.
In addition Blackburn had also lost the league title last season on points difference alone so were unlikely to show the inexperienced Cumbrian side any mercy while adding to their tally.
Apart from the middle part of the second half Penrith’s young side, featuring seven teenagers, had acquitted themselves very well under the circumstances.
It points to a bright future but in the here and now they need a win or two starting this Saturday as results did not go their way and they now sit at the bottom of the league.
The hosts made a lively start to the game and put the visitors under a lot of pressure early on.
There was no lack of effort in the travelling defence but the speed at which the home side were able to move the ball away from the breakdown kept them constantly stretched and tries came despite their efforts.
Blackburn were 26 points up in as many minutes and it looked as if it was going to be a repeat of the Rossendale game but the Cumbrians got themselves back into the game.
Archie Rattray made good ground from the back of the set scrum to give his side field position in the home 22. They pegged the home side back and Adam Howe was eventually held up over the line in the corner when a score looked imminent.
Ross Jackson received the resulting kick out from the home try line and cut a line through the defensive cover. A clean break took him into the 22 where he found Joe Kirkup in close support. Devastating at close quarters the Workington Town rugby league forward shrugged off the cover and forced his way over the line.
As the first half came to a close Penrith were on the front foot again. Joe Spencely fed the ball neatly back inside to Robbie Phillipson who broke the initial defensive line and took play into the home 22.
Pressure from the visitors brought the penalty which the ever-alert Ashton Hook took immediately and Howe and then Aaron Cavaghan made some headway before Phillipson came up with a strong run and barrelled over from close quarters which resulted in a respectable half time score of 26-12 to the home side.
The visitors then made a bright start to the second period. Rob Coward got them into the 22 hacking a loose ball to the corner. The set scrum has been one of the big plusses for Penrith this season and they had the put in to two scrums in the home 22 but were not able to capitalise on them.
After this the tide turned and the visitors had their poorest period of the game, conceding five tries in just over quarter of an hour as their earlier efforts caught up with them.
They fell of a number of tackles in the wide channels. Again it looked as if they were going be swamped but they rallied in the last ten minutes and scored the final try of the game.
Ross Jackson hacked on a loose ball into the 22 after where was a penalty awarded which was marched forward a further ten metres to within five of the line.
They tapped and went, and after several drives the ball came to Kirkup who spun out of the tackle using his upper body strength and drove over for the score.
Penrith did attempt to attack from deep looking for a fourth try and a bonus point in the final minute but they had to be satisfied with the three they scored.
There were positives though. Hook had made a more than impressive debut; Isaac Murray again looked more than calm under pressure and Harvey Johnston continues to grow in confidence and looks the part as he adjusts to adult rugby.
