It is early in the season to be talking about must win matches but
Penrith's trip to Morley had that feel about it. With the hosts sitting
three places off the bottom of the league table before the game and in
the last relegation position and witg Penrith only one place higher it
was vital for both clubs. To come away a poor second in these
circumstances in a game they should have won was very disappointing for
the Cumbrians.
They were behind as early as the fifth minute, Morley won a lineout on
half way, went through the phases to take play to the 22 and then
launched a cross field kick to the corner which was anticipated by
their left winger who easily won the chase for the ball. Penrith were
to have much the better of the share of possession and field position
but could not turn these advantages into points, on numerous occasions
the lost the ball within 10m of the opposition line, be it a turnover,
knock on or being penalised. There were some promising breaks, Gavin
Young went close, Mike Hawley and James Ellar made inroads but the
final pass to the winger went astray, they couldn't just quite finish
anything off.
They were to go further behind on 20 minutes, Phil Fell chased a
promising chip ahead deep into the home 22 down the right wing, he
hacked the ball back inside and as it bobbled close to the line, it was
gathered by the home defence who caught Penrith at sixes and sevens in
broken play and swept play to the Cumbrians 22, where again a kick
ahead caught the defence out and the chip and chase was touched down
behind the posts.
Further Penrith assaults on the line met with similar results and they
turned round at the break 14-0 down and the spectators were left
pondering whether this was excellent home defence or just too many
unforced errors in possession by the visitors. There have been many
convoluted discussions as to why Penrith have made such a poor start to
the season but it became plain what the problem is when for a short
period in the second half they hit a purple patch and played with power
and passion and looked irresistible. Life is so much easier for the
whole team when the tackles go in that bit harder, when the ball is run
up with a bit more vigour and an extra couple of yards are made. It's
so much easier when the opposition are on the back foot and you are
hitting the ball at pace. Penrith upped the pace, scored two tries in
minutes and looked as if they were going to run away with the game.
Penrith had had the better of the set scrums and drove off a 5m scrum
for the line, when the ball came to Wood he looked to be winding up for
a massive spin pass but Jon Fell came off the blind side wing and as
the defence moved wide took the ball at his shoulder and hit the gap to
score. Buoyed with a bit of confidence they then ran the ball from
their own 22, Jon Fell stepped inside the cover and sped to half way
before chipping ahead, the ball was gathered and the support landed and
drove for the line, Mike Stephens went close before the ball was moved
wide to the left and Phil Fell was on hand to run the ball in
unopposed.
At this point you would have put money on Penrith to run out easy
winners, they were dominant, went close on several more occaisions,
spurned a chance of a kick at goal but it just didn't happen and they
were caught out as the game drew to a close. The home No8 was allowed
to make far too much ground before being hauled down on the 22 and the
defence was again caught out with a kick to the corner and a kindly
bounce allowed the winger in for the winning try.
In the final play of the game Penrith were attempting to run the ball
from their own 22, a pass went astray trying to keep the ball alive and
the loose ball was hacked ahead and to the delight of the home crowd
the race was won by their own player and Penrith conceded their fourth
try of the afternoon to a kick and chase. This put the tin hat on it
with Penrith losing their losing bonus point at the death and Morley
gaining a four try bonus point.