Penrith carried their improved form before the festive break into the game on Saturday and they proved far too strong for a decent Newport (Salop) side who had narrowly beaten them earlier in the season.
The game started in front of a bumper crowd as a number of other local games had fallen foul of the winter weather leaving it one of the few games on the the club was also hosting a very well attended players’ reunion.
It was the home side that got off to a flyer scoring in the first five minutes, it was scrum half George Graham that set things off making a half break down the short side and getting Mike Fearon away, he in turn released Liam McAvoy who made it to the 22 and found Archie Rattray who had the pace for a clear run in under the posts.
It wasn’t long before the second score came, Fearon was involved again as he set up big Joe Kirkup who made the clean line break and good ground before returning the ball to Fearon who drew the last man and Rattray again ran the ball in from the 22 without a hand being laid on him.
On the 20-minute mark Rob Coward looked to have gone in at the right hand corner but the ball hadn’t been grounded and play was brought back for a Newport infringement five metres out.
The penalty was quickly taken and Andy Rogers on the charge proved to be unstoppable. The Cumbrians were 19 points to the good but the game was far from over as both sides looked to run the ball and open the game up all over the pitch.
The home side weren’t helping themselves conceding a number of penalties, one was kicked just into the 22 for an attacking lineout, the visitors worked the catch and drive well and almost made it to the line, from there their big No8 crashed over and they were back within two scores.
Both sides were looking likely to add to their scores, Graham went very close on a couple of occasions but on the cusp of half time Newport made good ground up their left wing deep into the home 22, a second score here looked on and that would make for a very interesting second half.
The home defence just managed to stem the flow down the left and the visitors moved the ball right but they made a handling error wide out.
Fearon pounced on it and tried to put Huw Lloyd away, he was caught and aimed a pass at Matty Boustead, he was lucky it bounced off his knee and then sat up nicely for him and he was away. The last man made a desperate attempt to tap tackle him but he just couldn’t reach him and Boustead was free to run round under the posts.
Penrith led 26-7 at the break and if the length of the field try just before half time didn’t break Newport hearts the first couple of minutes of the second half did.
From the kick-off a knock on gave the hosts a scrum in the centre of the field just into the visitors half, the backs lined out left and Rattray broke right from No8 with Graham on his shoulder, the defending back row got no where near him and he drew in the winger and set Graham away, he pulled in the last man and Coward had the simple task of running the try in.
Newport never threw the towel in and were always game, they worked themselves in some reasonable attacking positions but weren’t clinical enough to finish them off in the face of the stern home defence. They also struggled to contain a buzzing home side who were looking to add to their tally.
Next to cross for Penrith was Kirkup who used all his knowhow and strength in a run from the 22 through heavy traffic to the try line leaving a trail of would be tacklers in his wake.
The visitors did add a second try following a flowing move in the right corner but it was the home side who finished strongly.
The hosts disrupted a Newport scrum on their own line and turned the ball over, Adam Howe was the man to find the gap following several forward drives. Lee Chapman scored the home side’s eighth try after breaking the line on the 22 and clearing the cover.
The final score came when Isaac Murray fly hacked a clearance out of his 22 up the touchline, he chased his kick and on half way hammered it infield and it bobbled nicely in front of the posts for replacement winger Thomas Connell to gather it and score.
Penrith had won handsomely 57-12 but face stiffer tasks on the road to Wirral and then at home to Rossendale, they were also licking their wounds with what looked like one or two key injuries.
