Penrith’s senior Colts have reached a major final after an outstanding performance in their semi-final clash with Chester.
In the very last home game for as talented group of lads the squad gave the club, parents and supporters a spectacular finale with a fine 45-12 cup semi-final victory.
The club’s long-term investment in youth rugby will be all the more richer as they move up into senior rugby next season.
The majority have been together since Under-8s and under the guidance of coaches Stuart Hook and Julian Parry they will now make preparations for a tough NW Halbro League Cup final against Sandbach at Heaton Moor RUFC, Stockport on Sunday April 28 (3.30pm kick-off).
Chester were in a rich vein of form as they had narrowly lost out to Newport (Salop) Under-18s in the semi-final of the National U-18s Cup and have also made it into their County Cup final.
They had a belief this game was a formality for them, but instead they were confronted with true Cumbrian grit, determination and pure talent.
From the off Penrith came out of the blocks fast and took the game to Chester with a real sense of purpose. Both forwards and backs combined nicely to make good progress into the visitors’ half.
Inside centre, Harley Johnson punched a hole in the defence but was tackled just shy of the line with just minutes on the clock. The visitors had a scrum from the ruck and exited with a deep kick onto halfway.
They took full advantage of a scrum from the line-out, their first venture into Penrith’s half which resulted in a neat chip and collect by the winger to score in the corner. It was a sucker punch against the run of play but one that was soon rectified.
The next score was Penrith’s. Full-back James Bent started and finished from a deep clearing kick that failed to make touch. The ball was recycled from several rucks and eventually spun wide right, an injection of pace and a nifty side step took him to the line to open the Penrith account.
From the re-start Penrith were straight back on the front foot, courtesy of a tremendous Isaac Murray boot and their belief they could run the ball out from their try line.
With the ball turned over it went out wide to find Bent stepping up into the backline, and two very sweet side steps later he was over under the posts. Angus Dixon added the extras.
The re-starts were the only brief opportunities the visitors had to get into the home half but Murray, at fly-half, was next on the score sheet from a ruck at first receiver . He kicked deep to the right wing where a lucky bounce and a fruitful chase saw the ball pop back into his hands and he went over for the next try and another seven points.
In eight minutes, Penrith had set the ball rolling with a tally of 19 points.
The pack’s work rate was top-notch, with ball carrying off the rucks, while retention and support at the breakdown was exceptional.
The next score came from Dixon’s work on the left wing, after he made an elusive break up onto the five metre line with the forwards quick to support.
They recycled and wing forward Cohan Sanderson gathered at pace, crashing over for another great team score after a fine angled run.
Dicon kicked the extras from the touchline into a heavy swirling wind.
Penrith’s last score of the half came from a loose ball bobbling out at the base of a ruck on the visitors’ 22. Lock, Oscar Golding hacked the ball on before a defender could get hold of it.
Another back-tracking defender fumbled and once again the bounce was kind for Golding to score.
In the last five minutes, the Penrith penalty count went from one to six which gave a rare opportunity for Chester to spend some time in the home half but our the defence was strong and stood up to the test.
The second half was much tighter but started as Penrith finished the first with another well-deserved try in the second minute.
A break by right-winger Jude Dobinson on half-way took him up onto the 22, where slick handling and timely off-loading in the tackles found centre Andy Conner in support with just yards to go to complete the job.
The home side’s final score of the game came ten minutes into the half and was almost a carbon copy of the previous try. The forwards made the hard yards by drawing in the defenders and repeatedly crashing over the gain line.
The centres did the same before releasing Dobinson on the right. Murray’s tireless support play was again rewarded as he gathered a beautiful offload to round the last defender as the posts beckoned.
In the last fifteen minutes, the Penrith defence was again breached for a second and last time after another run of conceded penalties.
Chester took a five metre scrum, from which the number eight picked-up and several rucks later they added a deserved seven points to their tally.
But there was no doubt about the result as Penrith had given a great team effort and a tremendous first-half performance to be proud of.
