After their heroics against the side top of the league last week Penrith turned their attention to the team at the foot of the table, Birkenhead Park.
On paper it may have appeared a much easier task but all week talk within the squad has been not to take anything for granted.
Birkenhead had made a poor start to the season but since Christmas they have recruited, won their previous two games and are playing with a lot more confidence.
The Cumbrians had a couple of back row men missing, nursing their injuries from the brutal game the previous week, so it was going to be no cake walk.
If the home players were under any illusions the opening play should have put them straight, the visitors took the kick off, hoisted a clearance kick that their chasing winger won in the air. Then, several phases later were knocking on the door in the Penrith 22 only to be penalised.
The home side then took an early lead, this time the hoisted clearance kick from the visitors was too short, George Graham collected it and a ruck formed. Harvey Johnston picked the ball from the ruck, picked his way through it, stepped a couple of defenders and ran the try in from the 22.
Although the home side were leading they weren’t seeing much of the ball as the visitors were in the ascendancy, they won a penalty 30 metres out following a high tackle from the home side and the kick was good to cut the deficit to two points.
They weren’t long in taking the lead, Penrith were on the attack but an attempted chip over the advancing back line was charged down and from their own 22 the visitors scored their first try in the corner.
Penrith were being frustrated by their inability to hang on to the ball, they were losing too much possession in contact, their handling was not up to their usual standard and they were conceding too many penalties.
Birkenhead kicked another penalty and then scored a second try after some very poor tackling in the middle of the field, they led 5-18 and were good value for it.
The home side then did get their act together and exert some pressure in the attacking half. They were pressing on the visitor’s 22 and were awarded a penalty, Graham took it quickly and got to the line where the forwards battered away from a couple of yards out.
After numerous drives Graham picked his moment to release the backs and the ball was transferred quickly left to put Rob Coward in space and his pace did the rest.
The home side trailed 10-18 at the break and received a stern half time team talk from head coach David Preston. They started the second half showing much more urgency and soon had the visitors on the back foot.
They won a penalty which was kicked to the corner, Will Holme won the lineout throw and the forwards were camped on the line. Graham and Liam McAvoy went close before Ant Davies flicked the ball up for Adam Howe to crash over from close range, Isaac Murray’s conversion brought his side back within a point.
Penrith then strove for the lead, Murray went close taking a clearance kick at pace and bursting through the first line of defenders, he got to the line but was just short.
The visitors then extended their lead with a long range penalty from a good 40m, they were then just short with one rather closer but wider but with 13 minutes left on the clock the Cumbrians came up with what was the winning score.
From a scrum some 30 metres out the ball came into midfield, Johnston came into the line off the blindside wing and made a bit of progress and set up a ruck, the ball squirted out of the ruck and bobbled back to Mike Fearon who spotted the gap in front of him and made a clean break into the 22.
He drew the last man and found second rower Davies on his shoulder and as the cover closed in on him he fed the ball to full back James Bent who provided the acceleration to take him away from the cover and make the line. Murray’s conversion pulled the lead out to 24-21 and the home side just had to see the game out.
Birkenhead had had very little play in the home half in the second period and they were being held at arms length until the final minute when they got into the 22, then they were within inches of the home line, they could have easily got the winning score but the home side held out and were relieved to eventually belt the ball into touch to end the game.
With games lost to the weather and rearranged games, Penrith have had three home games since the turn of the year, they have taken 13 points from a possible 15 and any giggling worries about relegation prior to Christmas have been put to bed, they can now push on with some confidence.
With the form Birkenhead Park are running into they are sure to win a few more games before the end of the season, teams in the lower reaches of the table will need to look over their shoulders!
