A tricky away trip to West Hartlepool stood between Penrith and their 100% record this week, it is never an easy place to go and get a result as the North East outfit are always up for a physical scrap and always make themselves difficult to beat. Penrith did come through this test relatively unscathed and although they never looked like losing there was always the threat the home side might stage a comeback.
The visitors had all the early possession and looked in control but it was West who almost opened the scoring, their stand off was given scrappy ball with his scrum under pressure in their own 22, he managed to break from his own 22 and Penrith were pleased to get the ball into touch on their own line. Hartlepool then went close from an attacking lineout but strong defending by the Cumbrians and last ditch tackling from Matt Allinson turned the tide.
Ben Littleton got the visitor's first score as the home side tried to play expansive rugby on half way, a misdirected looped long pass fell to Littleton who showed the home defence a clean pair of heels for the try and Allinson slotted the conversion.
A penalty to the corner set up Penrith's next score, Mike Raine took the ball at the front of the lineout and the pack drove for the line. They were held up and after a couple of pick and goes the ball came to the backs, Ed Swale came into the line from full back and lightning quick hands from him, as he received man and ball, got the pass away to Littleton, in the line from the blindside, who had a straight run in.
George Graham scored the visitor's next try, he was also the recipient of an interception pass and was able to outpace the cover from halfway. The bonus point try came on the half hour, Littleton did well to take a clearance kick on half way under pressure from the chasers and got the ball away to Allinson, he moved the ball on to Jay Rossi who drew the cover in nicely to set Jamie McNaughton away up the right wing. He had a clear run to the 22 where he was faced with the fullback and he stepped him at pace to go over in the corner.
Penrith were 22 points to the good as they approached the break but the home side kept plugging away and worked a decent try with the last play of the half, a couple of half broken tackles got them in behind the visitor's defensive line and they went over in the corner.
Penrith started the second half poorly putting themselves under pressure and paid for it by conceding a penalty under the posts and at 22-10 West had almost halved the deficit. Any fears of a comeback were dispelled as a penalty was kicked to the corner and the Penrith lineout and drive functioned smoothly, Ian McDowell threw in with his usual accuracy and he was also at the back of the driven maul to claim the try.
A Dan Richardson break in midfield set up the next try, he got the ball to Allinson who released Rossi who took his try well beating a couple of defenders. West rallied and scored a second try through their forwards but two tries by newcomer Brad Taylor who had just come off the bench sealed the game for the Cumbrians. Quick thinking by Graham set up the first, the referee indicated a penalty against the home side but did not blow, play half stopped and Graham shot off, then chipped ahead. The ball was gathered by Swale who shipped it on to Taylor, he half dummied to Littleton who was up in support and stepped inside to score under the posts. He scored his second from nowhere, he received the ball standing still in the home 22, changed the direction of play and set off on a mazy run and looked to be going nowhere but he stepped the last pair of mesmerised defenders to score.
The home side had scored a third try by virtue of an interception between the two Taylor tries and finished strongly as they looked for a fourth try and a bonus point. A determined Penrith side were to deny them and could be pleased with their efforts. It was though, far from a perfect performance with too many lapses in concentration but it was a gutsy show with plenty of skill and good rugby in parts, plenty for them to work on in the coming weeks.