Penrith had a break in their league campaign this week and entertained Workington in the semi final of the county cup. The West Cumbrians play two levels below their hosts in the league structure but had no intention of letting that bother them as they gave them a difficult afternoon.
The game went pretty much as would be expected, Workington came and showed an awful lot of determination and grit in the forward battle and more than matched the Penrith pack but fell short when the game was opened out where Penrith just had too much ability and speed behind the scrum, Mike Hawley and the Fell brothers in particular had pace to burn.
The first half was to be one of attrition, the home side kept getting their noses in front only to be repeatedly pegged back. Penrith opened their account early as the Fell boys combined for the opening score. Hawley in a rare game at outside half found Jon with a miss pass at outside centre, he held the ball and his timing was perfect as he found Phil as he hit the line from full back, made the break and cut back inside the cover to score under the posts. Within a couple of minutes the visitors were also on the score sheet with a penalty.
Penrith hit back with a second try, Mike Stephens tidied up a loose ball in midfield, drove on and found James Sanderson who fed Hawley whose pace took him away from the cover to score, Workington again came with an easy penalty kick and then with another just short of half way to pull back to 12-9. The home side were then to miss a penalty shot of their own and Ed Swale went close to scoring from a quickly taken penalty on half way followed by a chip and chase for the line.
Workington then took the lead, they were struggling to make ground in open play but two penalty awards in succession saw them make progress up the touchline into the Penrith 22. They then successfully battered the home line using their big men up front and forced a score in the corner to go ahead 14-12. Penrith soon had their noses back in front, a quickly taken lineout following a long clearance enabled then to run the ball back, a couple of forward drives sucked in the cover and when the ball came to Hawley he made the half break, put Jon Fell away who stepped back inside the cover to score under the posts, half time and the home side were 19-14 up and it was just about a true reflection of what had gone on.
The second half was a very different affair as the home side cut loose as legs tired. Steve Wood was next on the score sheet. On as a replacement at inside centre he took a short ball off Hawley on the visitor’s 22, got in behind the first line of defence and stepped the last man with ease for the try. Ten minutes into the second half and Penrith put the game out of reach. Workington lost the ball on their own 22, it came to Hawley who was again the provider, making the break and then feeding the ball back inside for Phil Fell to romp in.
Workington though, never laid down for the whole 80 minutes and scored, again through their forwards, their driving play took them to the home line and Penrith were penalised in their attempt to kill the ball. The tap was taken quickly, the home defence caught unawares and an easy try claimed.
The next score came again with the away side again on the attack, their winger was away and chipped for the corner, Joe Nattrass and Phil Fell’s scrambling defence secured the ball, it was quickly spun across the home try line to Jon Fell wide on the left who showed a clean pair of heels and ran the full length of the field to score a stunning try, one or two tacklers looked as if they might just get to him but his out and out speed was just too much.
Workington still attacked but with rather more desperation, a wild pass as thrown out to their right, Steve Wood reads the game too well has been about too long not to sniff out these opportunities and took the interception with ease and sprinted in from half way.
It was then the Phil Fell show as he completed his hat trick and grabbed a fourth. Coach Beef Robinson made his first appearance of the season as replacement and soon was practising what he preaches securing turn over ball on half way, the ball was driven on by Ryan Johnson before Fell was on hand to run it in. The final score came when Hawley chased a Wood chip into the visitor’s 22, he rather over ran it but then got a boot on it, it ricocheted and fell to who else but Phil Fell for his fourth score and a welcome nine try win. Workington had played their part in an entertaining afternoon’s rugby in a good physical encounter with some thrilling movement and offensive running.
Thoughts though soon moved on to the task ahead and the visit to Winters Park of Birkenhead Park next Saturday for a vital league clash. They will also provide a huge physical test and is unlikely to be a festival of flowing rugby but a win of any sort will be more than welcome. Beveley’s progress at Rossendale will also be closely monitored before moving on to the final last day of the season the week after.