Penrith under 12`s win away at Kirkby Lonsdale

Sunday 25th January 2015
U12`s Penrith v Kirkby Lonsdale
54-0
Team:- Jacob Batey, Oliver Bibby, Harry Chambers, Luke Coggins(match Captain) Declan Devaney, Llewelyn Giggs, Tom Hill, Jonny Hope, Elliot Judge, Spencer Lancaster, Sam Nelson, Declan Parkinson, Bailey Potts, Connor Robinson, Liam Scott, Adam Wilson (man of the Match)
Two weeks ago Penrith had a busy morning at Carlisle and hopefully learnt some valuable lessons, both in the style of rugby they play and how their opponent`s play. Standing on the side lines now you can sense the week on week improvement in the team, both in attack and defence. So it was with interest that 16 members of the squad travelled to Kirkby Lonsdale, a team they play regularly through the season.
Connor Robinson kicked off and sent a long bouncing ball through the Kirkby team and across the try line resulting in the first scrum of the morning. The ball emerged safely on the Penrith side and the backs kept it alive passing this way and that until Luke Coggins made a good run forward before being pushed into touch. Early pressure by Penrith was only interrupted by various scrums which the referee had to intervene and reset. It wasn’t long before Penrith put together a lovely series of passes with the ball going to Robinson who teased the defence as to whether he would pass or not, dummied beautifully and scored.
From the kick off Penrith were straight on the attack putting Kirkby under pressure and driving them back. Declan Parkinson went into a tackle resulting in a clash of heads with a Kirkby player, luckily both players were OK. From the following scrum Oliver Bibby laid a fine ball out to Harry Chambers who made good ground before being bundled into touch. Penrith were awarded a penalty with Kirkby infringing, the ball went to Tom Hill who made good forward progress before being tackled, good rucking by Penrith kept the ball in Penrith possession allowing Spencer Lancaster to score.
The kicked ball was taken cleanly by Llewelyn Giggs who made a good run forward. Shortly after Jacob Batey was ruled offside in a ruck and Kirkby took the opportunity to set their Big gun up for a charge forward. Hill and Bibby had been primed for such a scenario and, bang down went Joe with the ball being turned over to Penrith.
Penrith continued to mount pressure on the Kirkby line with Elliot Judge growing in confidence and Adam Wilson driving the Forwards on, Kirkby were probably relieved to hear the ref blow his whistle signalling the end of the first period.
Penrith started the second period with real intent with good forward movement by Coggins and Hill and steady control from Lancaster soon freed Judge to score in the far corner.
Kirkby were desperate to get back into the game and made repeated attempts to attack but the Penrith forwards were impenetrable, especially Bailey Potts who made numerous tackles to dent any Kirkby momentum. Unfortunately he made one tackle too many and limped off the field. Again good play by Lancaster freed Hill to make a powerful run forward and Chambers found himself in space and fleet of foot he outpaced defenders to score.
With Penrith firmly in control of the ball it wasn’t long before it was fed out to Judge on the wing who scored with purpose. Kirkby made one last attempt to score just before the end of the period but were beaten by the whistle.
Despite leading by five tries, the third and final period saw Penrith playing a measured and mature game. Very much as a team with both the forwards and backs getting stuck in and contributing. Adam Wilson was rock solid earning `man of the match` from Robbo. That team play meant that a further three tries were added to the total, another apiece from Judge and Robinson and one for Jacob Batey. On a final note forget the tries scored for one moment and remember the fact that the Penrith defence was rock solid, regularly winning the ball and denying Kirkby any chance of scoring
A brilliant start to the new year, but some tough games to come.