Penrith and Kendal have shared some very close encounters in recent times and the latest was no different.
Penrith were pipped at the post rather than sneaking the win as in their last two meetings as Kendal claimed a 31-24 victory.
Penrith were appalling in the opening 30 minutes and conceded three tries but then got their act together to get on even terms only to lose with the last play of the game.
The visitors’ defence behind the scrum initially was abject and looked as if they were strangers which wasn’t too surprising as two of them were making their first appearances of the season.
The hosts, in almost their first attack, came up with a try after a penalty was kicked to the visitors’ 22.
The home forwards could make no impression on the Penrith pack and the ball was spun across their back line. There was no fancy move, switch or miss and they created the overlap far too easily for the simplest of scores for Dan Shorrock, converted by Evan Moir.
Penrith did then rather start to impose themselves but a clearance from the home 22 was dropped on half way.
The home side took advantage of the gifted possession for a second try, this time by Alfie Bradshaw, again converted by Moir.
Before the half hour mark another penalty was kicked to the corner by the home side and again the Penrith pack had their measure and kept them out only for the ball to be moved into midfield and Ben Dixon strolled through to score under the posts. Moir’s conversion made it 21-0.
It looked like being a very long afternoon for Penrith but they got their heads up and battled back into the game. Adam Howe, with a thundering run, got them well into the 22 and drew a penalty.
Ashton Hook had it taken quickly and they set up drive after drive through the forwards. The hosts defended well but with the defence under extreme pressure the ball came to the backs and Mike Fearon set up Mason Lewthwaite who crashed over.
On the stroke of half time the visitors got a second score after a penalty was kicked to the corner.
Richy Dadley found Ant Davies at the front of the line-out and the driven maul was brought down on the line.
After several forward drives for the line Howe drove the ball forward, turned his back and slipped the ball to Joe Kirkup who rolled off him and scored in the corner. They trailed 21-12 at the break but were certainly back in the game.
Penrith put themselves under pressure at the start of the second half losing possession in their own 22 and conceding a penalty, it was successfully kicked by Moir to pull the home side’s lead out by a further three points.
However the visitors had not given up the fight. Lewthwaite took a pass direct from a scum just outside the 22 and made a clean break almost to the line.
The ball then came down the narrow side and Kirkup was on hand to barge his way over in the corner for his second score.
Midway through the second half the north Cumbrians got on even terms.
Their forwards had an extended period of possession between half way and the home 22 without making a meaningful break and again it was Lewthwaite who made the difference. From a Fearon pass he made a half break then managed to get the ball away to Isaac Murray, who got deep into the home 22.
He then neatly got the ball away to Arran Pamphilon who went round under the posts. Murray’s conversion levelled the scores at 24 apiece.
With 20 minutes to go the game was in the balance.
Penrith had a couple of attacking line-outs where they won possession and looked dangerous but were unable to force the score.
The game looked to be drifting towards a draw as it had 12 months previous but in the final minutes the home side got the upper hand.
They won scrum possession on the Penrith 22 and kept possession well inching forward all the time.
Joe Anderson made good ground to take play under the posts and when the ball came to the backs a tackle was missed and Aaron Stephens scored the winning try which was converted by Moir for the final act of the derby.
In the grand scheme of things it was not a disaster, Penrith would have had three league points (2 for the draw and a 4 try bonus point) if they had held out but had to settle for two bonus points.
It will be a while before the Penrith players and management see this point of view as their disappointment losing a local derby takes some getting over but they remain in fifth place and Kendal in eighth.
Attention now turns to the county cup and the visit of Aspatria this Saturday.
