Penrith's form continued to improve as they claimed their third
successive victory with a win against a Beverley side who had beaten
them 30 points to nil earlier in the season. Beverley's form had also
slipped of late but it was to the home team's credit that after a very
close first half they completely dominated the second period.
Penrith started very positively with good possession and strong running
and it looked as if points were bound to follow, they did win a penalty
shot but it went wide and Beverley then came more into the game. They
had a penalty chance of their own which although struck well went
narrowly wide, Penrith's form seemed to stutter a bit and they gave
another two kickable penalties away both of which were taken to fall
6-0 behind.
The home side though were not fazed by going behind and continued to
press, they had several phases of play on the visitor's 22 when Steve
Wood's vision spotted the gap which he slipped through and although
held up on the line was able to feed the ball to Mike Hawley who dived
over, Wood's conversion put his side's noses in front. Beverley had
another penalty chance before halftime but it clipped the outside of
the post, Penrith also had an opportunity, Wood's kick was a little
easier and he put it over for a 10-6 lead at the break.
Penrith were just about worth their lead and in the first 10 minutes of
the second half they sealed the game. From the kick off Beverley
secured the ball and put a long kick down the middle of the field, full
back Gavin Cartmel ran the ball back and evaded a couple of tackles
before putting Ed Swale away down the wing, he took play to within 10m
of the line before cleverly chipping the ball back inside just over the
line and Mike Stephens supporting on the inside was first there to
touch down for the try, Wood's conversion gave the home side a healthy
lead and they soon added to it.
A long Wood pass in his own half found Hawley in acres of space and his
pace and line of running easily took him through the first line of
defence, he was then faced by the full back with support on both sides,
he kicked the ball to the line and James Sanderson supporting on the
inside was able to chase the ball and touch down over the line. The
game now was effectively won and although the visitors did not lie down
any aspirations they had of claiming the game were gone. Penrith were
pressing and created a chance or two before Wood claimed the fourth try
and a bonus point. Beverley were under constant pressure on their own
22 and with their defence at sixes and sevens, Wood recieved the ball
with a huge gap in front of him, he can at times almost slip through
the eye of a needle and he wasn't going to miss that one.
Wood was to claim the next try as well, Beverley had an overlap and in
their eagerness to get the ball wide threw out a long looped miss pass,
Wood read it to perfection, grabbed the interception and ran from
halfway to the posts unopposed. Penrith put the icing on the cake with
a sixth try, David Preston snapped up turn over ball, it was moved
quickly wide to the right to Swale who who unselfishly set up Gary
Hodgson who went over in the corner. Wood's conversion off the
touchline gave him a personsal haul of 23 points and it is no
coincidence his return to form has coincided with teams improved
showing. How much of an improvement there's been will be put to the
test when table topping Stockport are the visitors next week with only
one defeat against their name all season.