After their wake up call the week before against Middlesbrough Penrith couldn't be accused of complacency or underestimating the opposition in the first 20 minutes against Aspatria at Bower Park. They started the game at breakneck speed and were three tries to the good in the twelfth minute and then scored the fourth bonus try in the 20th.
It all started when a George Graham break got the visitors up to the home 22 where they won a penalty which Jamie McNaughton kicked accurately to the corner. Hooker, Craig Price found Sam Wilson with a throw to the tail of the lineout and joined the back of the driving maul and claimed the try as the Penrith pack eased their opposite numbers over their own line.
The Aspatria restart didn't go 10m and from the scrum on the centre spot the visitors worked the phases till they got themselves to the 22, stand-off Nick Dudson then worked a switch with his inside centre, Dylan Cowperthwaite which saw him breach the first line of defence to be faced with the full back who he neatly stepped to score by the posts. The third try came when the ball ran loose as the home three quarters attempted to run the ball, Dudson was first on the scene and hacked the ball deep into the home 22 with Brad Taylor in hot pursuit. He didn't quite get the ball and it was gathered by the last home defender who then dropped the ball behind his own line, by which time Dudson had arrived and fell on the ball to score.
The bonus point try came from an attacking lineout on the home 22, this time Price broke off and charged for the line but was stopped just short, Penrith recycled the ball and moved it right where there looked to be little on, Jay Rossi then ran the ball left against the grain, behind the previous ruck and then blind to find the gap between the last two defenders and slide between them to score.
As often happens in games where the fourth try is scored early on things went a bit flat and the home side got themselves back into the game. They kicked a penalty and then scored a well worked converted try and looked to be getting back into contention at the break where they trailed 10-26.
Whatever was discussed at the interval worked and the visitors started the second period a lot brighter than they finished the first. They went close a number of times with Wilson amongst most of it and he was held up over the line. Their efforts then earned them a penalty in the 22 which Fraser Nicolson stroked over and then it was the home side's turn to be in the ascendancy.
Graham made a try saving tackle to put the winger into touch in the corner but they still pressed and came up with a try when they ran a penalty in the Penrith 22 and the prop burst an attempted tackle to charge over.
As the game went into the final quarter and the visitors took command again, the set scrums had been evenly contested most of the afternoon but the visitor's pack now drove their opponents off their put in on their own line and Graham popped the ball up for Andy Muir who barrelled over from close range. They then scored the team try of the day as they strung phase after phase together, remained patient, Wilson then got the try his afternoon's work deserved going over in the corner.
The final try was a length of the field effort, Aspatria, who never gave up, were attacking but lost the ball on the visitor's line. It fell to Taylor who immediately looked to run and he got to the 22 before releasing Rossi, he cut infield beating the cover and set Graham away on half way who found another gear and kept ahead of the chasers to score under the posts.
The management and players were pleased with their afternoon's work, it wasn't fault free but it was a local derby and it was a maximum five points. Thoughts now move to the visit of Northern who are looking strong with everyone aware they cannot fall into the trap they did a fortnight earlier against Middlesbrough!