Storm Amy threatened to derail the Colts’ all-Cumbrian National Cup fixture between Penrith and Kendal.
But by Sunday morning, conditions had improved enough for the game to go ahead and it turned out to be a cracking contest with Kendal emerging 26-14 winners.
The visitors had gone into the carrying momentum from a strong league run to start the season.
With the fixture requiring Kendal to withdraw from a scheduled league match, the stakes were high – defeat would have been a double blow.
Squad selection had proved challenging, with strong competition for places.
Ultimately, a well-balanced 22-man squad was named, featuring a powerful starting XV and a bench capable of making an impact.
Playing with the wind at their backs in the first half, Kendal struggled to find rhythm, squandering several scoring opportunities that they would typically convert.
Penrith, to their credit, were physical and disciplined, forcing turnovers and penalties from Kendal at the breakdown.
It took 20 minutes for Kendal to break the deadlock. A sharp move from the back line saw Barr tackled just short of the line, before Cuthbertson finished the move to score the opening try. Bowman added the extras for a 7-0 lead.
The score seemed to ignite Kendal’s attack, and moments later Saunders powered over the line, dragging defenders with him. Bowman again converted to double the lead.
The remainder of the half saw a gritty forward battle, with Penrith beginning to tire.
Both sides showed signs of wear from the physical contest and challenging pitch conditions as they headed into the break.
Facing the wind in the second half, Kendal needed to rely on their first-half efforts to secure the win.
However, they began the half with renewed energy, producing arguably their best spell of rugby this season.
A flowing move involving Scanlan and Cuthbertson set up Capstick, who was denied only by a last-ditch tackle.
The pressure continued, and Barr crossed for Kendal’s third try, converted by Bowman.
Kendal’s attacking form continued, though Penrith’s defensive resilience was commendable. Following sustained forward pressure, Davies finished in the corner to make it 26-0 and the first missed kick.
However a challenging defensive period lay ahead for the vistors. Penrith began exploiting gaps in the Colts’ defence, aided by a series of penalties and the wind advantage.
Their first try came under the posts from Osborne, which was converted by Murray and with five minutes remaining, the hosts mounted wave after wave of attacks. Kendal’s discipline faltered, and Penrith capitalised with another try, this time from Gill and converted by Murray narrowing the gap to set-up a tense finish.
At full-time, the Colts reflected on a performance that saw them ease off after building a commanding lead, allowing Penrith back into the contest. Nonetheless, the result sees Kendal progress to the second round of the National Cup, with anticipation building around who will visit Mint Bridge next.
Two players picked out by the Penrith coaching team as men of the match were Kendal’s back row forward John Swallow and their centre Luke Cuthbertson.
Swallow impressed with his relentless ball carries and defensive work, while Cuthbertson combined creativity in attack with solid defensive contributions, helping to set the tone for Kendal’s performance.
