Penrith completed the first of their postponed fixtures following the RFU's delay to the start of the season and it meant they had two tricky away fixtures in succession, the previous week at Percy Park and this week at West Hartlepool. Both games followed the same pattern with the Cumbrians' attack providing plenty of scope to win the game producing some decent tries but their defence letting them down.
The game was played on a firm pitch on a sunny afternoon but a blustery cross wind had a strong influence on the game, Penrith played up the slope facing the wind in the first half and were under some early pressure from the strong running home forwards but they were able to open the scoring themselves. Isaac Murray used the wind cleverly to put the ball into the right corner for an attacking lineout, Morgan Bland took the ball and set up the driving maul. There were then drives from Harley Johnson, Bland and Joe Kirkup before the ball was switched back right and Jack Huddart continued his good run of form and took two defenders over the line with him. More good judgement of the wind saw Murray's conversion go over off the post.
The home side then came back strongly, the visitors conceding penalties gave them attacking opportunities deep in the 22 and they were able to level the scores at seven apiece. Midway through the half they scored another converted try and looked as if they might extend their lead even further before the break but it was the visitors who came back and were the next to score.
They had gone close on a couple of occasions, Johnson had made a strong run up the middle and a try looked on and later Ashton Hook was through and seemed to have the line at his mercy but was stopped just short. They did score when Adam Howe took a tap penalty to himself close to the line and made ground, Huddart drove strongly for the line and when the ball came to Johnson the defence were all close in ready for the charge but he floated a long pass to Jonah Murray wide on the left wing and he ran in unopposed. The wind made the touchline conversion virtually impossible but Penrith made it to half time only two points adrift and with the slope and the wind in their favour they looked in a good position at the break.
They started the second half well and pressured the home line and it looked like only a matter of time until they got their noses in front but it was the home side who struck with two tries in five minutes, the first down to poor midfield defence and for the second a sweeping move from the home threes took play deep into the 22 and they were able to force the try.
The Cumbrians trailed by 16 points and looked as if they'd blown it but back they came and thanks to Hook they claimed a third try, from lineout ball just inside the West half he spotted the gap and jinked clean through the home forwards and was held up in the home 22 where he had Bland in support who took the pass and his long strides took him to the line and he took a defender over with him.
Three minutes later Penrith were within striking distance, they won a lineout following a penalty kicked to the home 22 and set up the driving maul which was held up just short of the line, No8 Jason Tait broke off and spun out of three tackles before making the line. Penrith were now only four points adrift and with over quarter of an hour to go had a chance to go on and claim the win but it was West who finished the stronger and scored a fifth try.
Howe did have the ball over the line in the closing moments but was adjudged not to have grounded it, a score then would have earned them two bonus points but in the end they had to settle for only the one, a four try bonus point.
They will now be looking to kick start their season with a home game this weekend against Guisborough.