Carlisle produced their best performance of the season so far, for despite losing 32-22 at home to Northern they could so easily have beaten the League leaders.
They led 15-3 at half-time, and deservedly so, and showed in that first half how much potential is in the side, even though it was a disappointing conclusion.
It started well for brightly for Carlisle and after fluffing a two on one in the corner, centre Robbie James took a flat pass from fellow centre Luke Bell, to breakthrough the covering defence and go through by the posts. The seventh minute touchdown was converted by Jason Israel.
Carlisle continued to press the leaders, not allowing them to settle into any rhythm, and an infringement ten metres into Northern’s half gave Israel the chance for a long range penalty which was slotted to increase the lead.
Northern tried hard to get into Carlisle’s red zone, but some very good defence by the home side, kept the visitors at bay. It was a measure of Northern’s building frustration that they elected for a penalty to cut the points deficit to 10-3.
Carlisle were quick to extend their lead though as another line-out catch and drive down the right, saw Tom Graham stopped just short of the line. But skipper Josh Holmes picked-up and burrowed over for Carlisle’s second midway through the half.
The pattern repeated for the rest of the half, with Carlisle’s defence being more than up to the task of repulsing anything Northern could throw at them, whilst taking opportunities to push back and test the visitors defence, though without any further scores at the break.
Northern came out of the traps with a lot more purpose, and very quickly were over in the corner with a touchline conversion to get back in the match with just four minutes gone.
Carlisle’s intensity levels had dropped away, whereas Northern definitely found a second wind, with their backs making significant inroads.
It was just shy of the hour mark, when another much-simplified Northern line-out allowed them to push down the left, drawing the Carlisle defence across. Their fly half, spotting this, then threaded an inch perfect cross=field kick to their right winger who was round the corner of Carlisle’s defence and over for an easily converted try, and a 17-15 lead that didn’t look possible in the first half.
That was to be repeated again ten minutes later as another Northern line-out on the Carlisle 22 was driven across the park by their forwards, until their centre spotted a gap at the breakdown and was over by the posts for their third try.
Their bonus point came just three minutes later as they moved ball across the park at pace from the half way line, and with their fullback drawing the last man, slipped the ball outside for the winger to scoot down the left touchline and over in the corner for a 29-15 lead.
From the re-start, Carlisle pressed forward and some hard yards by the forwards gave the home side territory and possession within the visitors 22. Northern were put under the cosh again and
Their second attempt brought appeals for a penalty try which wasn’t given but their third attempt saw Rory Parish driven over for Carlisle’s third try. Israel converted from the touchline to bring Carlisle into bonus point territory with just a few minutes left on the clock.
Unfortunately it was not enough though as a 30 metre penalty for Northern, was slotted between the posts with the referee blowing for time shortly after the re-start.
