With a 10am pitch inspection and an awful weather forecast Penrith were expecting the worst of conditions as they travelled down the M6 to face Altrincham Kersal. In fact the Met Office, not for the first time, had overcooked its predictions and the day, although pretty wet was not the forecast storm of biblical proportions, there was very little wind and conditions underfoot weren't too bad. Saying that the rain fell constantly, it was cool and handling was not easy and both sides made their share of errors with ball in hand.
The Cumbrians made a decent enough start with Sam Dudson and then Kris Bratton looking dangerous running back a home box kick, it was not long however before the big Alrincham pack started to assert themselves. Initially they dominated the lineouts and made life more than difficult for the Penrith pack in the set scrums seemingly shunting them off the ball at will.
The opening score looked inevitable and it came just after the 10 minute mark, two penalties conceded in quick succession saw Penrith defending a lineout on their own line, the home pack secured the lineout ball with ease and drove for the line. To their credit the smaller Penrith forwards stopped the drive but a peel off followed by a pick and go claimed the try. Kicking was not easy on the greasy surface and the conversion was missed.
The home side continued to dominate using the slope and their kicking game but could not add to their lead, a mixture of stout Penrith defence and handling errors kept the score board static and as the half wore on the visitors slowly clawed their way into the game. It was not a day for throwing the ball about and releasing their young backs but Penrith drove the ball through their forwards and inside backs and began to enjoy a little more possession and field position.
Their play earned them three kickable penalty chances on or about the 22, none of them head on to the posts but Matt Allinson, who was having a massive game otherwise, missed all three chances and as half time approached they had nothing to show for their efforts. Penrith mounted another attack and went through the phases with the forwards driving the ball in time after time, they got themselves to within 10m of the line with Dudson teeing the ball up for charge after charge, he then saw his chance and darted down the right of the ruck, made a clean break and was able to stretch to reach the line for a well taken try. Again the conversion was missed but Penrith went into the break on even terms when at one point it looked as if they might have taken a real mauling.
Altrincham came out all guns blazing in the second half and the visitors had to ride out the storm, for quarter of an hour they were penned in their own 22 but bit by bit they were able to impose themselves. They took the lead midway through the half when Allinson struck a much harder penalty from the ten metre line which sailed over and they then looked the better side as the home forwards looked to tire.
Penrith attacked from an 5m lineout following a penalty but a handling error under the posts saw a scrum awarded to the home side. Their scrum had been rock solid all afternoon and although Penrith had managed to just about secure their own ball they had not troubled the home put in so an easily won ball and clearance looked favourite. The ball, though, was struck too well and ricocheted sideways out of the scrum off a home boot into play, Josh Dowson was first to react and pounced from wing forward on the loose ball and made for the line, he had a bit to do but his speed and strength saw him hold off two defenders to score. Allinson hit the conversion and Penrith were two scores ahead.
With 10 minutes left on the clock Alrincham upped their game once more and battered the Penrith line, they got within a foot or two of a score but the Penrith defence held firm. They gave a penalty or two away and Allinson got a yellow card as the clock ran down but they held firm. Into stoppage time and the home side got another penalty which they decided to kick to earn themselves a bonus point.
There was only seconds left on the clock and one more play as the game restarted, despite a nervous moment or two they saw the game out to claim a well deserved win which was down to hard work, bloody mindedness and a real team effort. There had been no stars just outstanding determination from every member of the squad.