Penrith did what they had to do in their local derby game against Keswick and came away with a bonus point win and a much improved points difference. The plastic Winters Park pitch allowed the game to go ahead despite the winter weather and as it was the only game played in the division, the home side move above Morpeth albeit that they've played a game more. They lead them by a slender four points and now have a marginally better points difference.
The visitors had the first scoring chance of the game but their penalty attempt slid wide, the Winters Park men then took their first opportunity, Jamie McNaughton fielded a poor clearance kick. He initially looked to run it but then angled a clever kick towards the corner which Mike Fearon gathered at full tilt and touched down.
Penrith were penalised at the restart and the visitors kicked the goal to move within two points. The home side were next to score after opting for a scrum when Keswick were penalised on their 22. In a move off the training pitch Archie Rattray picked and went from No8 and fed George Graham, he drew his man and slipped the ball to Nick Dudson and he did similar and put young Rob Coward away into the overlap they had created and he ran around by the posts to score. The home side were then almost immediately pinged for crossing and Keswick and the successful kick pulled them back within a score.
Penrith weren't long in extending their lead, Graham made the break and had Scott Lancaster on his shoulder who finished off the move and ran in to score. Almost on the stroke of half time Arran Pamphilon was up sharp and took an interception and ran in without a hand being laid on him.
Keswick's favoured attacking move was the cross field kick and this earned them a penalty try on 40 minutes when Fraser Nicolson deliberately knocked the ball on to avoid the score and got yellow carded for his troubles. James Thompson had also just been yellow carded for the home side being the unfortunate player who received a team card after they had conceded a string of penalties so although Keswick trailed 33-13 at the break they would start the second period against 13 men.
It didn't go their way as the home side scored three tries in the opening ten minutes, Ben Higgens finished of a team try after a number of phases and Rattray then profited from a quickly taken Graham tap penalty, Graham's quick tap also led to the next try scored by Sam Wilson, fresh off the bench. The visitors now had the added problem of Wilson and Mason Lewthwaite coming off the bench with a point to prove.
Andy Muir had scored against his old club before Keswick mounted their first meaningful attack of the second half and scored from close range after kicking a penalty to the corner and winning the lineout.
It was a credit to both sides that with the game being over as a contest for some time they both continued to give it their all. With places to play for the home side scored another five tries, a Lewthwaite break set up Fearon for his second, Coward also scored his second after some mazy running. Pamphilon took the restart kick and scored running the ball straight back thanks to an audacious dummy. Fearon with his third try and McNaughton with his second completed the scoring on a long afternoon for the visitors.
Penrith now move on to play Westoe in South Shields and know nothing less than a bonus point win will keep the pressure on Morpeth.