NOT A CLASSIC PERFORMANCE BUT MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

Penrith's target before the game was obviously to win but also to secure a four try bonus point to keep the pressure on Stockport who slipped up last week and are now just about within striking distance. Penrith came away with what they wanted to move within four points of second place, it was far from their best showing of the season but it was good enough to take the spoils.
The home side started the game very effectively and strung together a succession of good plays; Penrith in contrast made an error almost every time they got their hands on the ball, gave away possession far too easily and invited pressure on themselves because of their inability to keep the ball away from the home side. Rochdale's pack ran the ball up well and their stand off ran the game for them and it was no surprise when they opened the scoring with a well worked converted try under the posts.
The game continued in this vein with Penrith on the back foot, they have too many good players not to produce something of quality at some stage and they had Ryan Johnson to thank for getting them back in the game. Although they were guilty of trying to attack from too deep early in the game and giving the initiative back to the home side it was Johnson taking the ball at the base of a scrum on his own 22 that led to the visitors first try, his power and pace saw him burst past the home back row and inside backs into the opposition half. When caught he found Mike Stephens in support who continued the run and fed Mike Raine who took the ball standing still but slipped it to the fast advancing Gavin Cartmel who had far too much gas for any of the cover, Steve Wood's conversion levelled the scores.
This score didn't really galvanise the Penrith effort and the game was still being played exclusively in their half and they were conceding position and possession to the home side and it was no surprise when the home side scored a second try, this time in the corner and the conversion went wide. With five minutes to go to half time, the game was to swing Penrith's way, they won a scrum on the home 22 and drove the ball right, the ball was recycled and came left but it was a poor pass bouncing along the ground, it popped up for Raine standing at inside centre and his line of running towards the ball caught the defensive line unawares and he burst through and took the full back over the line with him, Wood's conversion put the visitor's noses in front.
On the stroke of half time Penrith attacked deep in the home 22, strong running by David Preston and Johnson took the play almost to the line and when the ball came to the backs, Wood picked his way through a stretched defence for another converted try and a 21 - 12 lead at the break. Not for the first time this season the opposition must have stood round at half time and wondered how on earth they managed to be trailing when they had had all the play and possession.
Penrith made a rather better start and Wood had the chance of a long range penalty which drifted just wide, he was then guilty of forcing the pace and when in an attacking position had a miss pass intercepted on half way. Rochdale's centre ran clear and scored under the posts to reduce the deficit to only two points. Although not firing on all cylinders Penrith always looked dangerous when they had the ball. A run out of defence up the left by Wood and a chip and chase by Joe Nattrass saw them win a lineout in the home 22. Although they managed to lose it they regained possession and when the ball came to Wood his flat fast miss pass to Mike Hawley saw him go outside his man to score behind the posts. Just minutes later Hawley put the game beyond the home side when following up a clearance kick intercepted himself and ran half the length of the field to score under the posts and Wood kick pushed the lead out to 35 - 19.
Rochdale did score again as the game drew to a close to win a deserved bonus point themselves in their fight against relegation. It had been a good open game and no doubt entertaining for the neutral, it had however been frustrating for the travelling contingent but they had got what they came for. As always there are good points to pick out of these games and the performance of Craig Rumney at prop was a big plus as was the appearance of young Craig Tyson making only his second appearance in the senior team at prop. Everything is still to play for as the season draws to it's conclusion.