Penrith made a winning start to their campaign in the north east league, it was not however as easy or as straight forward as the scoreline suggests. For long periods these two well matched sides nullified each other and it was not until well into the final quarter that the home side bossed the game.

The home side thought they had put together a big pack with four of their forwards topping six foot four but the visitors were every bit as big if not bigger, their lineout also functioned more efficiently than the hosts and they just had the edge in the set scrums as well, it made for an interesting encounter.

Penrith did get the better start, Matt Allinson robbed his opposite number of the ball in midfield and a scrambling Park defence were penalised. The penalty was kicked to the corner and they won the ball and shifted into midfield and put the visitor's defence under a bit of pressure and they conceded another penalty head on to the posts which enabled new captain Mike Fearon to put his side three points to the good.

There was nothing between the two sides and half breaks were few and far between, the visitors were to get the next chance to score but their penalty attempt sailed wide. Penrith got the next penalty attempt thanks to the deft hands of Will Morgan, he went for the charge down but actually caught the ball and again a scrambling Park defence on the back foot conceded a penalty. Again it was head on to the posts and the boot of Fearon doubled the advantage to six points.

The visitors continued to plug away and although they never seriously threatened the home line they did earn another penalty shot, this one was a bit closer and came back of the post, it seemed to take an age to come to earth and Ryan Johnson and Jon Fell did well to run the ball out of their own 22 and clear the danger.

As half time loomed the home side worked the first really clean break of the game, they won the ball on the 22 and cleverly brought Fell into the line off the blindside wing, he hit the gap and looked as he was going to reach the line but he was closed down just short, he managed to slip the ball to Ed Swale but he couldn't quite manage to force his way over either.

Park finished the half strongly and on two occasions kicked for the corner rather than going for goal but the home defence was solid enough to hold them out although they secured good possession both times.

Penrith had the advantage at the break but they weren't a full score in front and had the kicking gone a little differently they could just as easily been trailing. The visitors started the second half at the gallop and dominated possession and field position for most of the third quarter and made a positive attempt to get back into the game. They tried everything they had but the home defence held firm with some resolute rearguard action. Everyone did their bit but Johnson in particular put in some bone juddering hits driving his man backwards and George Graham, making an impressive debut, seemed to pop up any time the defence looked a little thin.

Penrith were weathering the storm though and the defining point came half way through the half, the ball was in play for a number of minutes and through numerous phases and turnovers of possession with play in and out of the home 22 but ended on half way with the home side winning a penalty to kick deep into the opposition half. Penrith never looked back after that and ramped up the pressure on the visitors who were just beginning to flag.

Although on the back foot Park were not giving in and the Cumbrians were struggling to break them down. They got a third penalty after good attacking play off a scrum on the 22 where Johnson and Dan Richardson combined well. Two incursions by Phil Armstrong having one of his best games for Penrith earned a fourth as Park were penalised on their own line and incurred a yellow card.

Graham put the icing on the cake with only four minutes to go, from turn over ball in the middle of the pitch he saw his chance and made a darting run, a step and a dummy later he was clean away and drew the last man and put Jamie McNaughton away who raced in at the corner to complete the victory.

This was an excellent win against a competitive Percy Park side, it is a new side and they grew in confidence as the game went on and the effort could not be questioned and their fitness in the closing period was the clincher. Debutant Callum Rowlandson brings more than just his large physical presence as he talks and cajoles all those around him, this is a good start and if the players and coaches can build on it it bodes well for the rest of the season.