Penrith knew they faced a stern test on Saturday at Eccles although they sit comfortably above them in the league. Earlier in the season they had struggled to contain the Lancastrian's big physical forwards and only won the home fixture courtesy of four penalty goals. To add to their task they also travelled without, arguably, their two most physical forwards, Ryan Johnson and Tama Toomata.
The home game between the two sides were played in horrendous conditions at Winters Park but thankfully conditions underfoot at Eccles were sound and favourable for the young Cumbrian three quarters. Penrith started brightly and a searing Kris Bratton outside break took play into the left hand side of the home 22, when the play came right a nicely judged Matt Allinson kick to the corner almost saw Scott Lancaster grab the opening score.
It was the home side who did open the scoring, they went close following a 5m scrum and a quickly taken tap penalty and got over the line but the would be try scorer was penalised for a double movement to get himself there. They got their first try on the ten minute mark through their strong running right winger who bounced a couple of tacklers before going in at the corner, a well struck touchline conversion sailed over.
Penrith hit back when a poorly placed home pass did not go to hand and as Eccles tried to regain possession under some pressure they were penalised and Mike Fearon hit a decent penalty shot into the wind to bring the arrears back to four points. Fearon was to miss a second, very optimistic, penalty shot against the elements before the home side went further ahead. This time their score came as their forwards put together a series of driving plays close to the breakdown playing to their strengths up front.
The conversion did not go over but Penrith were 12-3 down as the weather conditions worsened and a sharp hail shower swept across the ground numbing everyone's fingers. In the ten minutes before half time Penrith hauled themselves back into the game with two converted tries, the first came when the home side spilt the ball in mid field. It was quickly spun left as Jamie McNaughton, up from fullback hit the line. He beat the outside centre on the outside then angled his run back infield, drew the fullback and put Ed Swale away, up in support on his inside. Swale had been down with flu all week but still had the legs to make the line.
Eccles again gifted Penrith possession for the next try, their tackled ball carrier tried to play the ball off the floor but Allinson was too sharp for him and took the interception. He was unable to break free himself but found Fearon who had the gas to keep ahead of the cover and score. Penrith were more than pleased to turn around 17-12 in front after minutes earlier looking at a bit of an uphill task.
The third quarter was pretty uneventful with the visitors mainly on the defensive but able to contain the strong running home pack, if they could keep them out of their 22 they could handle them and by and large they did managed.
As the game went into the final quarter Penrith did manage some play in the home red zone and eventually got the score that should have tied up the game. Penrith were pressing and Eccles were pinged on their own line, as is his wont Swale tapped and went, the defenders next to him didn't know whether to tackle him or retreat and he made it to just short of the line. In support was Dan Morgan who picked the ball and dived over from a yard ( this yard increased to about 20 as the evening progressed).
The home side struck back with a converted try immediately and the last ten minutes turned into a nail biting affair but to be fair to the visitors the longer it went on the more their fitness told and they spent the final part of the game on the home line. They could well have claimed a bonus point try but that would have robbed the home side of their losing bonus point their performance deserved and on reflection the result was about fair.