DOUGLAS 32 PENRITH 48

Penrith returned from the Isle of Man with a bonus point win, their fourth five point haul in succession, which puts them level points with Waterloo in fourth place who they play next so if they want to leapfrog them the mathematics are simple, travel down there on Saturday and win.

The Douglas game was played in windy conditions on a pitch that had been cut up and was still soft in places, it wasn't ideal for Penrith's style of play but they eventually ran out winners by seven tries to four as they did their best to open the game out as often as possible.
The Cumbrians didn't get the best of starts playing into the stiff breeze and up the slight slope conceding a converted try in the first five minutes. They soon struck back and Jamie McNaughton finished off a sweeping move from well inside his own half to come within two points. His fellow joint captain Adam Howe then barrelled over from close range but again the conversion into the wind went wide but the visitors led by three.
Pressure and a penalty under the posts saw the home team level the score at ten apiece and on the half hour Ryan Johnson put the visitor's noses in front from an attacking lineout, they successfully won the ball and set up the driving maul, when this came to a halt Johnson broke off the back and met little resistance on the fringes and waltzed in for the try, this time converted.

Douglas kept up the pressure and hit back with another penalty then on the stroke of half time scored a second try in the corner, the conversion was wide but the home side had a slight 18-17 advantage at half time. After the change of ends the game changed markedly and with the wind at their backs Penrith kept the home side penned in their own half and 22 and scored at regular intervals.
From a quickly taken tap penalty Howe claimed his second try as he smashed his way over the line. From a penalty they then put themselves two scores in front, Fraser Nicolson took over the kicking duties in the second half and was superb in difficult conditions both underfoot and in the breeze, he was successful with everyone of his five attempts.

Andy Muir was the next to score showing his adaptability playing in the centre after games in the front row and in the back row..
Nick Dudson was next on the score sheet with a nicely taken try and then Penrith had something of an aberration and their defence went missing. They conceded a soft try following some very suspect tackling and after a bit of a fracas when the try was scored the home side were awarded a penalty at the restart. They ran the ball and the visitors' defence again went missing and the Manx side were within nine points with a couple of minutes left.

Dudson then settled Penrith nerves and set Matty Boustead up for the final score and Penrith got the win they were looking for and they now move on to Waterloo.