Penrith faced a difficult task in the opening fixture of their league campaign traveling to Stockport where they have not won for many years,
They have run them close on their last two visits but not just got over the line. This time they did manage the win by a remarkable 45-38 scoreline, but not without some late drama.
They couldn’t have started any better and were ahead within five minutes after the home side kicked away their first possession and Penrith ran it back at them to win a penalty.
It was kicked to the corner where Craig Price found Ant Davies at the front of the line-out. They set up the driven maul and eased towards the line where Joe Kirkup had the easy task of grounding the ball. Rob Coward’s conversion attempt came back off the post.
The lead didn’t last long as almost the same scenario was played out at the other end of the pitch – an attacking line-out deep in the 22, a catch and drive and the scores were tied at five apiece.
The Cumbrians were soon on the attack again in home territory where George Graham took a quick tap penalty on the 22 and almost made it to the line. Another drive for the line and another penalty was awarded which was taken in a flash by Kirkup who spun out of a couple of tackles to crash over. Coward converted and that was three tries in the opening ten minutes.
It was soon to be four as the visitors scored from the restart. Davies secured the ball and the forwards drove it in once before it was spread wide to Matty Boustead who found himself in space.
He made ground before chipping ahead and won the chase to hack ahead on half way where he was through on his own. The ball sat up nicely for him and he raced in under the posts.
That was the visitors 19-5 up but they weren’t having it all their own way and the home side hit back with a converted try from an attacking line-out.
Penrith restored their two-score advantage when Graham broke from a five-metre scrum but didn’t just make the line. Andy Rogers was there to pick up the ball and drive over with the assistance of Davies for the bonus point try.
Penrith then rather shot themselves in the foot conceding a string of penalties to end up on their own line. They struggled to contain the home side’s catch and drive and conceded a penalty try and a yellow card on the stroke of half time. They still led at the break 26-19 but started the second period a man down.
Stockport took advantage of the extra man and levelled the scores straight after the restart with a break through the centre.
The Cumbrians were soon back on the attack and had a scrum 10 metres out. Archie Rattray was now off the bench and from number eight he picked and went, and although two defenders had a hold of him he made the line for an impressive try.
He wasn’t long in claiming a second from an attacking line-out. The forwards worked the catch and drive to perfection and he went over in the corner.
With 10 minutes to go Penrith looked to have the game sewn up after Rattray tidied up a chip ahead, then went on a run right through the middle of the home side.
When he was finally tackled he was able to flip the ball to Jamie McNaughton in support and he shrugged off the last defender to score under the posts for an impregnable looking 45-26 lead.
That’s not quite how it worked out for as the clock ticked down they were defending frantically on their own line with their lead down to one score and with only 13 men after conceding two tries and two yellow cards!
But hold out they did in a final real backs to the ball effort and they secured a valuable away win to start their season. There was some tremendous performances but clearly plenty to work on after conceding six tries.
