Penrith started their season for real last Saturday with a very disappointing cup exit across at Whitehaven against an abrasive St Benedicts side. Penrith, unlike some of their contemporaries in the county, take the county cup seriously and took as good a side as they could muster but in a very poor, very frustrating game they came a poor second.
They started brightly enough and within minutes took the lead, a clear break down the left by Jamie McNaughton took play deep into the home 22 and when the ball was whipped back right winger Josh Dowson had a run at the line, he had a bit to do but forced his way over in the corner. Mike Fearon's conversion attempt from the touchline into the wind came back off the post.
St Benedicts were not behind for long and hit back after kicking a penalty into the Penrith 22, from 15m out they caught and drove from the lineout and eventually crossed the Penrith line next to the posts and the successful conversion gave them the lead.
There was little between the sides and Penrith were next on the scoreboard and took the lead with a Fearon penalty after an infringement for punching. As half time approached Penrith shot themselves in the foot when the overthrew at a lineout in their own 22 and gifted possession some 10m out, the home pack took full advantage and drove over for a second converted try. Penrith's woes were added to just before the break when they were penalised at the base of the scrum and conceded another three points with a well struck penalty.
Trailing 17-8 at the break Penrith were back to within a score when the home side were penalised at the first breakdown after the restart for not releasing the ball and Fearon's penalty brought them within six points. The game had been very stop start from the off but reached farcical proportions as the second half wore on when the home front five were virtually out on their legs. There was someone down injured at every single break in play, it took an age to set every lineout and set scrum but they got away with it and who could blame them when they had their noses in front.
It was up to the higher league side to force the pace of the game, to take advantage of their fitness and skill levels but this Penrith failed to do, there were far too many unforced errors and too much static play and this played into the home side's hands. Penrith did look as if they would eventually grind out the score they needed to win but with quarter of an hour to go the game was taken out of their hands. A missed tackle in midfield followed by a kick and rush saw "Bennies" claim an untidy try that was the score that sealed the game. A further home penalty in added time just rubbed salt into the wounds.
There were a few positives to take out of the game, but only a few. After being severely mauled in the set scrummages by the "Bennies" pack in the cup final at the end of last season Penrith were dominant here, if unable to take any real advantage from it. This is largely down to the introduction of Arran Sullivan at prop but also the improvement of youngster Ryan Banks. The strike running of James Hogg was exemplary and he was one of the few to break the line, Matt Allinson battled manfully in midfield and Penrith could not have asked much more of their new captain Tama Toomata. The coaching team can only hope this is a giant wake up call and for a much better showing at Vale of Lune this weekend.