Penrith were hopeful of a win before their home game with Stockport in Regional 1 North West – and that’s how it worked out with a 29-12 victory.
The return of influential scrum half George Graham, making his first appearance of the season along with quality three quarter Jay Rossi, raised hopes.
Matty Boustead was also back from injury so the home side’s line up had a much more experienced look about it. They ran out reasonably comfortable winners but for much of the second half the game was on a knife edge.
The Cumbrians couldn’t have started any better and were quickly into the game. There was a bit of aerial ping pong following the kick-off but the home forwards soon got into close driving mode and won a penalty on the 22 which was kicked to the corner.
Craig Price found his man and they inched the maul to the line where it went to ground. A couple more drives later they were over the line and the ball squirted out invitingly for Graham who dotted it down for the opening score, Mike Fearon converted for a seven point lead.
The visitors then had the upper hand and Penrith held out but only just. A penalty kick to the corner went dead, they then had a back row clean through with the line at his mercy and Rob Coward and Isaac Murray somehow got him down and on to his back and he was unable to ground the ball.
They were putting the home side’s defence under some pressure and then against the run of play the home side doubled their lead. An attempted chip into the corner from close range cannoned off Boustead and bounced kindly in front of him and he gathered it and sprinted out of his 22 and had a clear run to the line for a welcome individual try.
As half time approached the Winters Park men had a golden opportunity to extend their lead further. They made progress down the right wing with Boustead almost making the corner then when the ball came left there was an obvious overlap.
A chip was attempted into the corner ahead of the attacking line but it found the only defender there. He was quickly past the advancing line and although Coward ran him down he had support with him to score the try.
Instead of being three tries to the good the home side’s lead was cut to 14-7 and although they had a bit of a flurry that was the score at the break.
There was little to pick between the two teams as the second period progressed but Penrith did get a penalty chance just outside the 22 head onto the posts which followed an incisive break by Joe Kirkup.
Fearon knocked it over to give his side a ten point cushion but the visitors then had their best period of the game and came up with a well worked unconverted try to trail by five with just over ten minutes to go.
The home side then finished the stronger. Kirkup again made the break and was supported by Graham and then Scott Lancaster who made it to the line but the ball was not grounded.
The referee yellow carded a Stockport defender and awarded a penalty under the posts. Rather than take the three points Penrith opted for the scrum where Graham whipped the ball out to Fearon and he in turn looked to Joe Spencely who barrelled into the defence and then slipped the ball back inside to Fearon who picked his way over.
Fearon’s conversion pulled the lead out to 12 points and the game looked over but they weren’t finished.
Defending in their own 22, Murray took a tricky pass and then launched the ball way into the visitor’s half. The full back took it at the second attempt but Murray was up quickly and knocked him down. He lost the ball forward which Kirkup tidied up and fed Spencely.
He drew the cover in and looped the pass out to Boustead whose run held the last man. He fed Coward who pinned his lugs back and out-paced two defenders to go in at the corner and confirm the win and probably more importantly claim the try scoring bonus point.
This bonus point win lifted Penrith out of the relegation zone for the first time since September and with some of their higher profile players now available as they go forward will be looking to build on it and secure their place in this league.
Also along the way there have been some seriously talented youngsters been given a chance to shine at this level and that will benefit them and the club in the coming months.
