Penrith had lost their two previous away games, admittedly against sides towards the top of the table but Head Coach David Preston was keen they came away with a result even though Huddersfield lay 6th in the league at the start of the day. The scoreline may suggest they had an easy time of it but up to half time the contest was very close and it was only in the second half where they really imposed themselves on the game.
The home side had the first chance to get on the scoreboard, Penrith were penalised at a scrum just into their own half and Huddersfield took on the kick at goal.With a clean strike and a following wind the kick had the legs but came back off the post for an early let off. The set scrummage was to prove Penrith's Achilles Heel in the first half, they were regularly penalised and Arran Sullivan spent 10 minutes in the sin bin. This stopped the visitors being able to mount any sustained pressure and allowed Huddersfield to clear their lines and then gain good field position that they otherwise wouldn't have.
It was Penrith who were playing all the rugby though and Mike Fearon in particular was having a good afternoon with Huddersfield struggling to deal with with his intelligent running. He made a clean break just inside his own half to set up the first score, he was eventually halted on the 22 where he found Mike Stephens in support. He battered his way to just short of the line and played a pop pass off the ground to George Graham who forced his way over from a couple of yards out.
The Cumbrians then made a hash of the restart giving away a penalty and had to defend an attacking 5m lineout and then a couple of 5m scrums but their defence was strong and they eventually cleared their lines when the home front row were penalised.
As half time approached Penrith were only seven points to the good and although the home side weren't particularly threatening they were still well in the game. On occasions they were guilty of letting the ball bounce and this was their downfall from a 22 drop out, the ball ran loose and Dan Morgan snaffled possession. The ball was thrown quickly wide to the right and Jamie McNaughton nimbly beat three defenders and carried the ball from his own 22 to the home 22, Fearon made a half break and from the ruck Graham took his chance and sniped down the side, shrugged off a tackle and went in for the try.
Penrith were 12-0 up at the break and never looked back putting on a wonderful display of running rugby in the second half. They were soon three scores up, turnover ball in midfield was spun left, Phil Armstrong made good ground up the flank, the forwards were soon up in support and were storming the line only a yard or two short. The try came when Ben Littleton came from deep off his wing at pace and took a pop pass and went clean through the defensive guards.
The bonus point try came after a sweeping move down the left where Littleton took play deep into the home 22, the home side were penalised and the penalty kicked to the corner. The forwards rumbled from the lineout and didn't quite make the line and when the ball came to Feaon he set up Littleton who came off his wing and again hit the ball at pace and burst clean through the defensive line.
Fearon also set up Littleton's hat trick try, he placed a chip perfectly between the winger and fullback with the outside of his boot, the defence again allowed the ball to bounce and it sat up nicely for Littleton at pace who took it in his stride and made the line. A bouncing ball from Fearon's boot led to the next score, this time it was a long punt up field and Johnny Wills, off the bench at fullback, chased hard and got to the ball, took out the last defender and set McNaughton away for the easiest of tries.
The final score came as Penrith camped on the home line, the defence was under severe pressure and conceded a penalty virtually on the try line, Graham tapped quickly and was immediately held by a home player who should have been retreating to his line, the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try and the game was well and truly put to bed.
Penrith were delighted with their away win and also the nature of the win, they have now got to concentrate on winning while the other sides at the top of the league play each other and then hopefully make up ground on the league leaders.