A great sense of refief washed over Winters Park on Saturday after
Penrith's second win of the season, following their win on the opening
Saturday they had lost five games on the spin, produced some of their
poorest performances in recent years, lost a lot of confidence and
ended up in the relegation zone. The recovery started the previous week
in a very physical game at Rossendale and continued with a well earned
win against a solid Burnage side who were more than a handful for the
first hour of the game, it isn't the finished article by some way but
it was a massive step in the right direction.
Burnage provided a very substantial test in the early stages of the
contest, they came hard at their hosts and rather shocked them with the
physical intensity of their game, they put in some big tackles and
rocked more than one or two of Penrith's runners back in their tracks,
they deservedly took the lead after only five minutes following strong
running off a 5m scrum.
Penrith were soon back in the game, a well directed Steve Wood penalty
to the corner resulted in a lineout 7m out, it was won and the pack
drove for the line. They were held up but James Lund drove round the
fringes, quick ball came to Ian Mcdowell who flipped it to Gary Hodgson
who hit half a gap and forced his way over, Wood's conversion was good.
Penrith were to take the lead which changed hands five times in the
first half, a good break down the right by Paul Newton and excellent
support play by Hodgson forced the penalty and Wood goaled.
It was then the visitor's turn to have the upper hand and Penrith
defended four 5m scrums before the pressure finally told, the try came
wide out and the conversion missed. Penrith retook the lead from the
restart, James Ellar closed down the upfield kick, got the charge down
and the ball ran kindly, there was still a bit to do as it bobbled 10m
out but he kept his head took his time and made sure of the try. As the
half drew to a close Penrith looked to cement their position, Ellar
went close in the corner but then Burnage broke out, won a penalty and
kicked it to the corner, scored from the lineout 5m out to lead at the
break 17-15.
The second half was a completely different affair, Penrith were to
score twenty points unanswered and win the game before a consolation
try at the end for the visitors. Penrith started well and Ed Swale,
Mike Hawley and Jon Fell all went close as they got the upper hand. As
the final quarter loomed they finally retook the lead, a searing break
by Ellar was only snuffed out with illegal play and Wood goaled the
penalty.
With 20 minutes to go the Burnage effort dipped, as these big sides
often do, at every breakdown someone went down injured, the water came
on as they tried everything to break up the play. Penrith now though
had the game by the scruff of the neck, from the restart they played
rugby the way they like to and put in the phases and put the ball
through the hands, the telling break came from Wood, support from first
Swale and then Billy Barton kept play alike and then Ellar and Hawley
were on hand for the latter to go over in the corner. Wood's conversion
put them a score ahead.
The Cumbrians turned the screw and scored next from a 5m scrum, Mike
Raine broke and drove almost to the line, the ball came right to Ellar
who threw an outrageous dummy before diving over. Young Scott Harrison
now entered in the fray and was to enhance his reputation, his strong
running led to the ruck on the visitor's 22 where Newton spotted the
lacked of cover down the blind sidehe then scampered in down the
touchline for a richly deserved try. As the game entered stoppage time
and was winding down Burnage sniffed the chance of a fourth try and a
bonus point, to their credit they probably deserved it but Penrith were
disappointed to concede as they now sit one place below them in the
league table on points difference.
This was a much improved performance by the home side and gives them
something positive to build on, the victory was built on the excellent
play down the spine of the team by their experienced men, notably
McDowell, Dawson, Raine, Newton and Wood.