Penrith completed the second half of their double header against Kendal, this time in the county cup final, and again sneaked a win at the death.
They had a superb second half scoring 24 unanswered points after giving themselves a mountain to climb with a poor first 40 minutes.
Kendal could not have had a better start, they were gifted an attacking lineout 15m out when a kick was cleared directly into touch after the ball played back into the 22. The Kendal forwards didn’t need a second invitation and worked the catch and drive from the lineout nicely for an early converted try.
The restart was long, straight to the Kendal stand off, whose kicking was excellent in the first half with the wind at his back, he put the ball back into the Penrith 22.
There was a scramble to keep it in play then the attempted clearance kick was charged down and Kendal regained possession, they were on the front foot and added a second converted try. Six minutes gone and a 14 point lead.
Penrith did come back at them immediately, Archie Rattray took a high restart kick in the air and his forwards rumbled forward into the 22 where the defenders were penalised.
The penalty was kicked to the corner where the lineout ball was won and Kendal were penalised again this time on their own line.
George Graham opted for the scrum from the penalty, Sam Wilson broke from No8 and was just short, there were other drives till the ball came to Adam Howe and he opened up the defence to power over.
Penrith were to score a second try in similar circumstances, the defenders were again penalised on their own line, the scrum was opted for again and this time it was Rattray in the No8 berth and he almost made the line from his break off the back of the scrum.
With the defence in disarray Graham threw a long ball out to Matty Boustead who bustled over between two tacklers to score. they now trailed by only two points.
The game moved into the second quarter and Kendal had almost complete control, they extended their lead with a penalty following a high tackle, scored a third converted try following a strong break in midfield by their centre and a fourth when they were gifted possession five yards out when there was a mix up at the back of a lineout.
They led 31-12 and had further chances to score but some resolute defence kept them out and in hindsight that was the beginning of the Penrith fightback, they couldn’t afford to let the deficit grow any greater.
Half time brought a stern team talk from David Preston and the second period started with his side in the ascendancy.
They got a score back after four minutes, Wilson stood off a set scrum on the 22 and ran the ball up deep into the red zone, the score didn’t come straight away but the forwards worked away until Luke Coulston was in space five yards out, Graham found him and he forced his way over.
Ten minutes into the second half Penrith a couple of substitutions and the introduction of Joe Kirkup swung the game, in his first run he burst five tackles and being on fresh legs Kendal really struggled to contain him.
Penrith’s fourth try came from another penalty deep in the 22, Graham tapped this one and set up his forwards, Scott Lancaster, Andy Rogers and Kirkup all went close but it was Rattray who finally burst the defensive line.
The deficit was now only seven points but time was running out and the game went into the final 10 minutes, Graham tidied loose lineout possession on the 22 and fed Kirkup, he and Lancaster drove the ball up in midfield,
Howe made a few more yards and the ball went wide to the right. Richy Dadley drew in the last two men and Rattray, now stood on the wing, had a run to the corner with the cover flooding across. He was strong enough to hold them off and make the corner. The conversion off the touchline would have levelled the scores but it was wide.
Four minutes to play and still behind but they kept their nerve, they gathered the restart at the second attempt and the forwards kept it tight and drove upfield, a lung busting Kirkup drive burst a few more tackles and made 15 yards.
The ball came smartly down the backline and Rob Coward was taken out high. Graham had tapped the ball and gone before the defenders reacted and made another 15 yards into the Kendal half.
The ball went right down the back line and again Rattray was out wide, he cut inside and was hauled down some 10m short.
The forwards again kept it tight and inched forward, Kirkup burst through the line again and looked as if he might make the line but was just short, Graham was first on the scene, scooped up the ball and dived over to the delight of his team mates, Coward knocked the conversion over and there was still time to restart the game.
Ant Davies secured the drop out, Howe ran it in one last time, Graham checked with the referee and gleefully banged the ball into touch to end the game.
It was a near run thing but great credit must go to the Penrith side for hanging on in there when they were under the cosh late in the first half and then having pride, heart and spirit to overturn a 19-oint half time lead.
