Penrith lost their unbeaten record to Regional 1 North East leaders Heath at Winters Park.
It finished 59-36 to the visitors but Penrith were certainly not disgraced against a strong Halifax side.
Following their excellent away win at Driffield had to go into the game without both their second rowers who had played in that game, two of the back row and four of the back division.
Less than half the starting line-up from the Driffield game were available to face the league leaders and many people’s favourites for the title.
The youngsters who stepped up were determined to give it a real go against a strong, well organised side and they certainly did that.
The home side had first use of the gale blowing down the pitch and couldn’t have got off to a better start.
They kicked off to the visitors and within a minute Sam Wilson stripped the ball from a Heath ball carrier for lock Jack Tunnicliffe to snap up and gallop off down the wing where he outran the cover to score in the corner.
Shortly after the home side kicked a penalty deep into the visitors’ half, won the line-out and strung some phases of play together.
From a breakdown on the 22 George Graham broke blind and almost got completely away but when pulled down was able to get the ball to Nick Dudson who completed the move to score. Isaac Murray converted and the home side had a 12-point advantage.
Tunnicliffe was unfortunate not to add to his tally with an interception try as he was clean away but pulled back for an offside decision.
The home side then conceded a number of penalties in quick succession ending with one under the posts which Heath kicked to reduce the deficit.
The Cumbrians then hit back following another barnstorming run from Tunnicliffe which took play deep into the visitors’ 22.
Heath were penalised for a high tackle and the tap was taken immediately. The ball came to Matt Austwick who found Matty Boustead with a neat short pass that got him past the first line of defence and he picked his way to the line for Penrith’s third try.
The home side had enjoyed much the better of the first half hour but Heath now began to get their game together and turn the screw.
There was a knock-on around the home 22 from the restart and the visitors scrummaged strongly and broke from the base.
A tackle was missed and a try scored under the posts.
The game was then effectively won in the ten minutes either side of half-time as the visitors got up a head of steam and turned pressure into points.
Penrith had performed well up to this point but were now giving up possession far too easily and conceding too many penalties.
Heath scored another two tries to lead 20-19 at half-time and then with the gale at their backs scored another two quick tries to lead 34-19.
The home side were still game and the visitors obviously still considered them a threat as they opted to kick for goal off their next two penalty awards.
They were successful and pulled their lead out to 21 points.
There was no let-up in the effort of the home side and they deservedly earned their fourth try bonus point.
Graham got his side into the red zone running a quickly taken penalty with the ball moved across the back line.
Boustead created the space for Sonny Askins to crash over and score.
Heath were in no mood to let up and added two further scores before Murray added a glorious fifth try.
Dudson fielded a bit of an aimless kick and ran the ball back before releasing Murray still in his own half. He hit the gap in the initial chasing defensive line and sprinted deep into the visitors’ half.
The cover defence looked as if it was going to get to him but a change of direction and a shimmy saw him get away and go in at the corner.
Heath added an eighth try before the home side had a strong finish which saw Jonny Hodgson end up scoring after no little pressure on the visitors’ line.
With so many changes the Penrith lads could have hidden behind that as an excuse but they battled away for the whole 80 minutes.
They only lost eight tries to six against a big well drilled quality side.
They secured a bonus point and all in all couldn’t have really done much more.
Things don’t get any easier as this week they travel to Ilkley, one of the three remaining unbeaten sides.
If they show the spirit and determination they have in the first four games they will not come away empty handed.
