Penrith knew that to have any realistic chance of maintaining their current league status they had to win at Blaydon on Saturday and although they were competitive for the first hour of the game they fell away and were well beaten. Results of those around them went to form and with a game to go their fate is sealed and they will play in Regional 2 North next season.
The home side had not been in the best of form but started the game brightly and put the Cumbrians under a lot of early pressure and after ten minutes had a penalty for their efforts, Penrith were probably glad they had restricted them to three points as the NE side had monopolised play up to that point.
The visitors then got the journey out of their system and played a bit of rugby themselves and used the strong cross field wind to their advantage. After a touch finding penalty down the left they retained possession they moved the ball down the left, Greg Wrathall found himself on the wing and got to within 5m wide out where the ball was flicked up to Adam Howe who took one of the home side's big forwards over the line with him to score and put his side's noses in front.
The home side looked dangerous in attack and their stand off set up the next score with a neat dummy and a pass back inside to open up the defence and open up a clear run to the line. With half time approaching they forced a second converted try and led 17-5 as the clock ran down to half time.
Penrith took advantage of a home misdemeanour and kicked a penalty to the corner, the visitor's lineout was functioning well and their forwards had the ball in the red zone, Scott Lancaster made it to within 5m, Olly Newton played the ball inside to Jack Gaskell who got closer, Howe then got within a whisker of the line and Gaskell then on the next charge got the ball on the line. Rob Coward's conversion brought the score back to 17-12 and the Cumbrians were right back in the game as the half ended.
The second half didn't start as they would have wanted as they conceded another converted try but they dragged themselves back upfield and pressured the home line once more. They looked close to the breakthrough but were illegally impeded and the penalty was given five yards out. Lee Chapman had the tap taken and was off and rolled the last tackler to claim his side's third try and pull the tie back to within a score at 24-17.
That was as good as it got as the visitors then conceded a couple of soft tries and the job went to bagwash, a try from a charged down clearance kick and four tackles missed on the right winger saw the game run away from them. Scott Lancaster and Ant Davis sweated blood for the cause but that was that and although they did battle right to the end to try and salvage a bonus point it was not to be.