A glance at the league table might suggest a win for league leaders Penrith at Carlisle would be a mere formality, the score-line might suggest that was what happened but in reality it was a real slog against a side that always seems to save its best performances for this fixture.
The visitors played way below their best in the first half, led by less than a score at the break and were reduced to 14 men. Their hosts were buoyed with scoring just before the break and were clearly up for it and a home win looked on the cards. Winters Park Head Coach David Preston was less than impressed with his side's approach to the game and their early efforts and read the riot act at half time.
Although the visitors were poor early on and gave away unnecessary penalties and their defence was not as aggressive as sometimes they did score after five minutes. George Graham played the ball directly to inside centre Joe Spencely from a scrum on his own 10m line. Spencely ran the ball into contact and slipped it to Jamie McNaughton who hit the line at pace from fullback and was clear of the cover before he was out of his own half and ran the ball in under the posts for a converted try.
The home side were battling away and allowing the visitors no peace but it was Penrith who came up with the second try. A penalty was kicked to the corner and hooker Craig Price found jumper Archie Rattray at the front of the lineout and the ensuing maul was driven to the line and then halted illegally. A second penalty was kicked to the corner, Price and Rattray repeated their drill but this time the ball was driven infield, when the ball came to Graham he sent the pass back to the touchline and Scott Lancaster squeezed in at the corner.
As the half ended the home side got a head of steam up and were camped on the visitor's line and there was some last ditch defending, Arran Pamphilon got pinged for a deliberate knock on, yellow carded and a penalty try was awarded. He had already been carded for a similar offence earlier, so the second yellow became a red and he was off for the rest of the game. Play did restart before the break and the home side were then playing with some real confidence.
Preston's words of wisdom obviously had the desired effect as Penrith were a different side in the second half and they extended their lead after only four minutes of the restart. A quickly taken Graham tap penalty took them from half way to the 22, the ball was moved left with both youngsters Dylan Thompson and Rob Coward heavily involved and the ruck formed close to touch, Mike Fearon went down the short side supported by James Thompson who simply ran over the full back to score.
A charge down in the backs led to the fourth try, Spencely was quick to gather the ball and play was soon on the home line, the forwards picked and went till Adam Howe spotted the gap to force his way over.
The city side kept battling away and got the next score, a penalty was kicked to the clubhouse corner and the lineout catch and drive got them to the line and the stand off went over from close range.
It was all Penrith in the final quarter as they added four tries, the first came as the forwards battered the line from an attacking lineout then Graham set up Spencely from close range and he powered over. As the visitors pressed on the 22 Nick Dudson, just on for a limping Fearon, spotted Coward in acres of space on the right and his cross field kick was judged to perfection and the young winger picked up his sixth try in six games.
Dudson then exchanged passes with McNaughton to create the gap for him to score and Andy Muir picked up the final try from an attacking lineout.
Penrith's season has been largely injury free but they lost Jay Rossi last week to a bad muscle tear and both Fearon and Rattray limped off here. Next week is a rearranged fixture so there are already some unavailabilities, so Preston will be hoping these two are fit as he pieces his side together for the difficult trip to Middlesbrough