All the pre match talk on the long trip down to South Yorkshire was to
get off to a positive start or risk being over run as Penrith were the
previous season when they went down by thirty points with out reply,
stand off Beverley at your peril or risk a mauling. Well Penrith
couldn't have made a much better start to the game but still ended up
second best.
They raced to a ten point lead in as many minutes with two similar
tries, No8 Mike Raine broke from the base of a scrum on the 22, made
ground and released Paul Newton into space and he finished with aplomb.
Beverley kicked the restart directly into touch and from the scrum on
the centre spot Raine broke again, again Newton galloped into space and
this time released James Ellar who appeared to glide through the
remains of the home defence for an elegant score. The home side had
been caught cold and came back with a bang, first with a penalty and
then a converted try to draw level when a simple tackle was missed on
the 22 to allow one of the host's hard running centres through.
Both sides were playing attacking attractive rugby and were much better
with the ball than without it, Penrith were next to benefit when Ed
Swale fielded a clearance near half way and ran it back, be beat a
couple of would be tacklers before putting Phil Fell away on the right,
the winger still had a bit to do but was strong in the tackle and took
his try well. The way the game was going it was no surprise when slack
Penrith defending again allowed one of the home centres in for a
converted try to claim the lead. A Steve Wood penalty from distance
gave Penrith the narrowest of leads, 18-17, at the break.
Penrith did not have a good second half, they conceded four tries,
three of them when they lost possession in the opposition half and
Beverley ran the ball back well in open play and took advantage of some
poor defending. Penrith were being out rucked, now whether that was
down to too many players wanting to run the ball up rather than ruck
themselves or lack of fitness is open to debate but clearly not enough
players were committing themselves to the ruck. At all times Penrith
posed a threat to the home defence, on two occasions when they conceded
tries seconds before they were favourites to score before the ball was
lost. At 38-18 down the game was clearly lost but good work again by
Swale this time put Jon Fell away wide out, he outpaced the cover and
rode the final tackle well and just made the line for a fourth try.
This did mean the Cumbrians got a bonus point and did not come home
empty handed, which looking on the bright side was much better then
last season when there was the ignominy of being "nilled" and came away
with two seriously injured players.
Penrith clearly have the ability to unpick defences, there is flair in
abundance, it is their ability to stop the other side playing and not
giving away possession cheaply which will have to be worked on, it is
nothing that will not be easily cured, it is early season and the side
is settling in. From a settled set of forwards last season Barton,
Benson Birtle and Lund were all new to the side so every game played
now will help.