Penrith comfortably won their fourth game of the season but that was not how the game started, the home side looked distinctly second best as they got off to a slow start and a big Durham City side pinned them back, looked the more aggressive and caused them all sorts of problems at the breakdown. It came as no surprise when the visitors opened the scoring with five minutes on the clock, they kicked a penalty to the 22, won the lineout and rumbled. The home forwards stifled the drive but when the City side moved the ball the blindside winger joined the line, made the break and put the winger in for a too simple try.
This was the first time this season Penrith have been behind on the scoreboard and they dug in and the game gradually swung their way but they found it hard work. There were signs of a recovery, Jon Fell came off his wing and made a break up the middle, his intended scoring pass went forward as a result of the covering tackle. Ed Swale then made a sharp break from the ruck to the 22, he was supported by Liam Tunstall and Callum Rowlandson before the visitors were penalised for not rolling away and Mike Fearon got the home side on the board with a penalty.
Penrith were warming to their task and a Fearon break launched Mike Stephens on a dangerous run but the support could not get to him. Penrith took the lead midway through the half, they had turnover ball when it was knocked the on in midfield, with the defence in disarray Rowlandson cleverly played the ball out of contact and released Swale down the right hand touchline. He ran from half way to the 22 and then unselfishly drew the fullback and put Fell away who went under the posts unopposed. Fearon's conversion gave them a 10-5 lead.
Before the season started Penrith felt they would not face a larger pack but for both home games so far they have, Durham had some very big forwards, some of them were obviously experienced but the pace was beginning to tell and one or two of them were starting to walk. It didn't have any immediate effect and they added a penalty after some untidy home defending.
Durham did have first advantage of the wind and the game was in the balance with only two points in it as the half time approached. Penrith were on the attack having kicked a penalty to the 22. Tunstall took a wonderful one handed take at the tail of the lineout and the forwards drove for the line, they had the visitors in all sorts of trouble and they conceded a penalty close to their own line. Swale had it taken in a flash and darted for the line, he was going to be stopped just short but slipped the pass to Matt Allinson on his shoulder who crossed with ease. Fearon's boot made it 17-8 and put an entirely different complexion on the game as they turned around with the wind at their backs.
Penrith scored 34 unanswered points in the second half including five quality tries as the opposition wilted. A spilled tackle gave Penrith turnover ball in their own half, Swale put the ball wide to Jamie McNaughton who put Fell away on the wing, the cover was stretched and when McNaughton got a return pass Ben Littleton was in support on his inside for an easy try.
A poor clearance kick gave Penrith a lineout on the 22, Tunstall again cleaned up at the tail. The forwards drove before setting the backs away, there looked to be an overlap but the cover got across and the ball came back infield. Tustall drove it to the line and Swale was on hand to stretch and get the touchdown. Fearon then added a penalty as Durham infringed trying to stem the flow.
The next try came from a 5m scrum, Ryan Johnson off the bench at No8 set up Stephens five yards out and he powered over. The next score came as Durham threatened, Allinson stripped the ball in the cover tackle, it landed at McNaughton's feet on his own line but with the visitors all over the place he picked his way through them with a mazy run, drew the last man on the visitor's 22 and Fell went in for his second try.
The final score came off the training ground as they put the phases together and created the space for Littleton to go over in the corner. It was a satisfying win in a game that looked in the balance until the end of the first half. A much tougher test awaits away at Alnwick next week.