Penrith avoided a potential banana skin on what was to prove to be an awkward day in the north east, firstly they had transport problems and were then faced with extremely windy and cold playing conditions. This would make their open running rugby style difficult and although the pitch was in good condition for mid January they would have preferred it much firmer.
The Winters Park men opted to play into the wind which was blowing straight down the ground and they couldn't have got a better start and scored from their own half, Jamie McNaughton joined the line off the blindside wing and made the break up the middle of the field, he then found Jay Rossi on his inside who fed the ball to George Graham on the 22 who ran in under the posts for an early seven point lead.
It was clear Stockton weren't going to be dangerous from their own half but if the visitors made too many mistakes, then conceded penalties, which wind assisted went deep into the 22 the home side could win an arm wrestle on the line and force their way over. This is exactly what they did do to level the scores and then kicked a penalty to lead by three.
Penrith always looked dangerous with ball in hand and retook the lead when James Thompson claimed lineout ball on the 22, the ball was moved left and when it was recycled and came back right, Rossi danced his way through the home defence to score from the 10m line. From the off the Cumbrians were bossing the set scrums and on a number of occasions opted for the scrum when awarded a penalty in an attacking position. This led to their third try when the ball came to Mike Fearon who made the half break and had Rossi on his shoulder to take the pass and stroll in.
Penrith then invited their hosts deep into their 22 following a couple of knock-ons and a penalty and again they won the close quarter battle on the visitors line to pull themselves back within two points. Penrith finished the half opting for a scrum when awarded a penalty under the posts and Archie Rattray scored from No8, although he didn't get clean ball and had to outmuscle half the home pack, he got over the line.
Penrith started the second period 24-17 to the good with the wind at their backs and could have been expected to run away with the game but that didn't quite happen. Fraser Nicolson did get the next score when he skipped outside his winger to score on the left but one or two poor decisions, a brace of penalties conceded and some rank bad tackling saw Stockton score a third try and with half an hour to go they were within a score.
Penrith then got their act together and dominated the remainder of the game and scored five unanswered tries to get the outcome they were looking for but it was all just a bit scruffy. A quickly taken Graham tap penalty saw Andy Muir power over from close range,
17 year old debutant Rob Coward then took a Graham pass to finish well in the corner before Muir added another from a catch and drive from the lineout.
The home side then tried to run the ball from their own 22 looking for a fourth try with no luck, they dropped the ball in front of their posts and Arran Pamphilon seized on the chance to score and then Muir picked up his hat trick with an interception, young Coward topped his afternoon off by slotting the final conversion.
It was mission accomplished with a bonus point win, it maybe wasn't in fine style but it was good enough to edge a point nearer Morpeth who won narrowly at home to Middlesbrough but didn't manage a bonus point. Attention now moves on to Keswick, the visitors to Winters Park this weekend, and the need to repeat the trick.