It was first versus second in the league as Morpeth hosted Penrith on Saturday, it turned out to be a well contest game as the scoreline would suggest with both sides scoring three tries, Penrith lost out as two of their scores were right in the corner, the two missed conversions, in the end, was the only difference between the two sides.
Penrith occasionally have their problems on the road but started well here and dominated possession with the home side hardly touching the ball in the opening ten minutes. Morpeth's defence was strong and they never really looked like succumbing as the Winter's Park men strung the phases together. Penrith then lost their influential scrum half George Graham to what looked like a serious knee ligament injury and he was unable to carry on, captain Ed Swale moved forward from fullback to replace him with Jon Fell coming off the bench on to the wing. Both played well for the 70 minutes that remained and both of them came up with a try.
Penrith's period of dominance did not last and the home side then looked dangerous with ball in hand and were running the ball with some purpose and coming hard into contact. They put the visitors under pressure and were awarded a penalty under the posts which they kicked for a three point lead.
Penrith were again able to keep the ball for long periods and were coming up against a stone wall defence until Jay Rossi was able to find the gap and make the break and put the home side on the back foot. From the breakdown the ball came to the backs, Jamie McNaughton now at full back came into the line and from the 22 chipped the ball deftly to the corner. The ball was just short of the line and Fell was up quickly and gathered it and got over in the corner, Penrith now had their noses in front but it would be for the only time in the game.
From the restart Penrith cleared to the home fullback who went on a strong run and was eventually hauled down just short of the line in the corner, Morpeth had the put in to the set scrum which is one of their strong suits and they went for the pushover try, they almost got it but knocked the ball on in the process and it was the visitor's put in to the scrum five metres out. The home pack put the squeeze on and unsettled the Penrith eight and then shunted them off their own ball, the back row broke for the line and the intial drives were snuffed out but they then ran the ball blind and the winger went over in the corner, an excellent conversion gave them a 10-5 advantage.
The home side had their tails up and were storming into contact and made yards every time as the ran back the restart kick, they ended up scoring and the visitors had conceded two tries in as many minutes and were looking under severe pressure. There were five minutes left till halftime and Penrith did manage to stop the rot and then scored themselves, Fell hit the line coming off the blind side wing and made ground up midfield, the ball came down the short side, Phil Gardham took a pass neatly off his toes to continue the movement then McNaughton conjured up an overlap out of nowhere to set Brad Taylor away up the touchline. He then did the unselfish thing, drew the last man and found Ryan Johnson up in support on his inside and he went over unopposed.
That was the last play of the first half and Penrith turned round trailing 17-12 but with the slight slope and breeze now in their favour. They started the second period well and looked as if they might take the game away from their hosts but then couldn't keep up the pressure as they were struggling at the set piece and were having difficulty securing their own ball.
They were though, the next to score, Matt Allinson made a clean break up the middle and the try looked on, their was plenty of support but a scrambling defence just managed to snuff it out, not however to liking of the referee who awarded a penalty which Allinson kicked to put his side within two points.
Penrith would then have liked to put the home side under the cosh in their own 22 but it was the opposite scenario that was being played out as they were desperately defending their own line and scratching to get possession to get up the other end of the pitch. Morpeth's persistancy eventually paid off as they went over for a converted try which looked to have made the game safe, also at 24-15 it would mean the Cumbrians would go away empty handed as they trailed by more than seven points which meant no losing bonus point.
McNaughton was to be the visitor's inspiration once more as he took a clearance kick on halfway, he ran the ball back then chipped the oncoming defenders, was first to the bouncing ball and hacked it on. He was then able to gather it but he couldn't quite make the line, Swale though was there and got over in the corner.
The conversion was wide which meant the deficit was down to four points and although there were five minutes still on the clock Penrith could not mount a meaningful attack as the home side played out time keeping the ball in the forwards.
No one likes to lose but it wasn't a complete disaster, they turned up and gave a decent account of themselves against a side that is one of the best in the league, not like their last away game. At one stage it looked as if they may have lost five league point to the second placed team as Morpeth looked on for a four try bonus point at one stage but they battled back and got the losing bonus point which meant they only lost three league points. ( Morpeth's 4 winning pts v Penrith's 1 bonus pt)