If Penrith have aspirations to win the league, which clearly they have, they cannot afford to be beaten at home and especially by the other contenders, and more especially by the side at the top of the league. That was the scenario going into this game and it didn't start too well.
Driffield were clearly a big side and the early indications were they were very well drilled and organised. On five minutes they worked a slick move down the right and their winger finished it off running in under the posts and the Winters Park men were seven points down before they had got started.
This was a set back but the home side clawed their way back into their game and gradually made their mark. They got on the scoreboard after they shunted the much bigger visiting pack off their own scrum ball in the 22, Mike Raine broke from No8, George Graham carried on the run almost to the line and the forwards piled in, the ball came right to the backs, Jon Fell and then Jamie McNaughton made ground almost to the line. Dan Richardson in support almost got over before Ryan Johnson muscled his way over. The conversion drifted wide but the home side were back in contention.
Penrith looked to be in for a second try as Lee Chapman made a telling break but what looked like a scoring pass went astray. The referee however pulled play back for an offside infringement and Matt Allinson knocked over the penalty for a one point home lead.
Penrith were close to scoring again in a sweeping move, a Jay Rossi break through midfield was carried on by Liam Tunstall and McNaughton then had the try line in his sights, his pass was intercepted by the last defender who could only ground the ball over his own line for a 5m attacking scrum. From this attacking position the home side conceded a penalty at the scrum, then poorly returned the kick up field allowing the visiting fullback a clear run. He was tap tackled but was able to regain his feet and carry on to set up a second try under the posts and Penrith again trailed.
They bounced straight back and lineout ball taken by Richardson on the 22 led to the second try, Rossi made the break in midfield to take play deep into the 22 and Graham set up Craig Price on the charge, he returned the ball to Graham who went in under the posts.
The Cumbrians were a point to the good as half time approached, they kicked a penalty to the 22 for a lineout for the final play of the half. Price again found Richardson and the forwards drew in the Driffield cover as they put the drive on, then ball the came to Ross Jackson at outside half who flipped it back inside to McNaughton arcing in off the blindside wing and he split the defence wide open and made the line without a finger being laid on him.
Allinson's conversion made it 22-14 at the break and set his side up nicely for the second half. Driffield started the second period in determined mood and pinned the home side back in their own 22 for long periods and although Penrith defended manfully the visitors were rewarded with a penalty which they kicked to bring themselves within a score.
The Yorkshire outfit continued to pile on the pressure but the home defence was superb, everyone, forwards and backs, big and small were throwing themselves into contact. They finally lifted the seige when Raine and Graham combined off the scrum on their 22 to set McNaughton away and they could then spend some time in the opposition half.
They went close to a fourth try when McNaughton ran back a clearance kick, he chipped ahead and he and Fell looked favourites to win the chase but the ball was scrambled clear. It was Penrith's turn to turn the screw and the forwards went through the phases deep in the visitor's 22, Johnson went close before the ball was whipped down the backline, fullback Swale was up in the line but Rossi saw the space wide on the outside, missed him and gave Fell on the left a clear run to the line. Allinson converted well from wide out and Penrith looked safe with a 12 point advantage.
There was still 20 minutes to go and Driffield were in no mood to throw in the towel, it was back to the wall stuff from the home side but they could not prevent a third Driffield try. They manged to hold up the drive from a lineout in the corner but the ball went blind and the try was scored right in the corner. An excellent conversion off the touchline meant there was only five points in it.
Penrith then had to withstand an all out assault by the visitors, they were down to 14 men after a yellow card and Driffield were giving it everything. Play went into added time with the visitors in possession and on the attack, Penrith were penalised twice and the game could not end until there was a break in the play, the Driffield continuity had to be admired as they played phase after phase after phase, also to be admired was the resolute home defence. There were nine extra minutes on the clock when eventually the visitors were penalised deep in the Penrith 22 for hanging on to the ball. Graham tapped the ball and Allinson banged it into touch and everyone could relax.
It had been an epic, one of the best game seen at Winters Park for a while between two good determined physical sides who would both know they had been in a game.