When Penrith played Manchester in September the game was almost over before it really began.
Then, Manchester scored the first three times they had possession of the ball and the Cumbrian side spent the next 70 minutes chasing the game in vain.
It was important they got off to a decent start in this game and they were up for it from the beginning.
Penrith received the kick off and retained possession in the very poor, gale force conditions for numerous phases until they had almost gone the length of the pitch and conceded a penalty on the visitors’ 22.
The city side then had a lengthy period with ball in hand but this time didn’t score at their first attempt but did look ominously dangerous.
If anything the visitors were a little tentative in the first quarter which allowed Penrith to impose themselves on the game.
They kicked a penalty into the visitors’ 22, Archie Rattray won the line out and after a storming run by Ant Davies up the touchline the forwards drove for the line.
After applying some pressure they got over the line but the ball had not been grounded so there was a drop out from the try line, with the strong wind behind it the kick went almost to half way and was fielded by Matty Boustead.
He then set off on a mazy run and looked odds on to score but was hauled down just short of the line, there was a pick and drive and then George Graham wriggled over for the try, it was converted by Rob Coward into the gale.
The home side then scored again almost immediately, Davies took the restart and the Penrith forwards drove up field, Manchester were penalised at the breakdown and Graham took a quick tap, he made ground before the visitors were penalised again and this time Isaac Murray kicked well into the wind for a lineout on the 22.
From the lineout the ball ran loose on the defenders side and the home forwards pressed, Lee Chapman got his hands on the ball and was brought down and when the ball was recycled Davies was on hand to power over in the corner and his side were 12 points to the good.
Manchester had been quiet to this point but then put together a long period of possession and although the home side defended stoutly they were eventually worn down and following a penalty awarded deep in their 22 conceded a converted try.
The hosts then had a period in the visitors’ 22 when they might well have added a third try, they knocked on twice within inches of the try line and were held up over the line for a second time but couldn’t quite take advantage of their pressure.
Following this the visitors went straight up the other end and scored a second try to level the scores at 12 apiece.
If Penrith could get to half time on level terms they might fancy their chances in the second half with the wind at their backs but they couldn’t hang on, they had chance to clear their lines but kicked the ball back to the visitors, a tackle was missed in front of the posts and the try was scored under the posts and the home side trailed 19-12.
If anyone thought the game would change in the second half Manchester gave an object lesson in how to play into the wind. They kept the ball in hand, hardly ever kicked it and refused to relinquish possession without a fight, Penrith were living on scraps. The visitors added a fourth try and were relentless with ball in hand.
Penrith gave themselves a sniff of a chance after a rare knock on, Josh Dowson had just come on on the wing and gathered the ball behind him on the right wing and went on an arcing run, out pacing the chasers, and headed on up the left wing.
He put away Huw Lloyd outside him and he sped between two tacklers and just showed a clean pair of heels to the cover to score under the posts.
Coward’s conversion brought them back within a score but the visitors kept plugging away, dominating possession and although the home defence was dogged they were eventually worn down.
The city side scored two more tries and as the clock ran down it looked as if the home side weren’t getting anything out of the game, until the final play.
Rattray broke from a scrum on his own line, he made ground and playing the ball out of contact found Harvey Johnston.
He then made ground to half way before looping the pass out to Lloyd who again with his electric pace left the cover for dead for the bonus point try.
Although Penrith only gained a bonus point it was a much improved performance against one of the best sides in the league.
They had spent long periods, especially in the second half, without the ball and their effort had never flagged.
