After two consecutive defeats on the road Penrith knew nothing less than a win against fourth placed Morpeth would keep them in contention at the top of the league table. As has so often this season they followed a dismal performance away from home with a sparkling home win, they could hardly have gone any better whatever had happened.
The game started with the home side having the better of things, they had attacking lineouts in the opposition 22 where they secured possession and were able to set up the driving maul but they couldn't out muscle the Morpeth pack to force the try. The visitors then showed their intentions and went through the phases and moved the ball with purpose and showed they still believed they had a say in the outcome at the top of the league. They knew if they could win at Winters Park they then hosted the other sides in contention, Driffield and their local rivals Alnwick at home, so their fate was in their own hands.
It was an intense contest with both sides battling for the upper hand and when the first score came it was out of the blue. Penrith were looking to play at pace and George Graham put the visitor's defence on the back foot with a quickly taken penalty, he made ground and then chipped ahead where the defender gathered the ball, he was dispossessed and Graham flung a long pass inside to Brad Taylor who took the ball just about on the centre spot in acres of space. His arching run took him to the left and as the cover came across he dummied to Jay Rossi and stepped back inside and hit the gas and cruised under the posts without a hand being laid on him, a wonderful individual try.
The visitors from the North East were not fazed by going behind and came straight back, they created the try with a clever move from a lineout on the 22. They took the ball and released a forward through the middle of the line and he got clean away and almost made it to the home try line, he was hauled down but with the home defence at sixes and sevens Morpeth forced the advantage with the try and leveled the scores at seven all.
At this point there was nothing in it and it looked as if the game could easily go either way but it was the home side who got the next score, teenager OllyGutteridge had been drafted into the side on the morning of the game and it was him who broke out of his own half to initiate the score. He got to the 22 and the run was continued by Matt Allinson who bulldozed into the red zone, Dan Richardson then found 17 year old Joe Connelly who beat two forwards then outpaced the fullback to score under the posts. At this stage he had already been taken out with a high tackle that had left him groggy then on the stroke of half time he was "clotheslined" again in front of the posts and Allinson put the penalty over for a 17-7 half time lead.
It is often Penrith that have a problem with their discipline but it was the visitors who were doing most of the transgressing, the final penalty count was 15/6 in the home side's favour and it helped them extend their lead early in the second half. Allinson kicked a penalty in front of the posts and then put a penalty to touch out of his own half to the halfway line. A four man lineout was called which Richardson played off the top straight into the hands of Graham who was off like a shot. Ryan Johnson, captain on the day, did well to get to him in support and Graham set him away and he showed great pace for a big man and no one got near him as he went in next to the posts.
Penrith scored from the restart to all but claim the game, Johnson gathered the drop out, and the ball was moved left down the line, Jon Fell almost got away out wide, the ball came back inside to Lee Chapman who set up the ruck. Quick balll was produced and the influential Graham was away yet again and from 20m out made the line for the fourth and bonus point try.
The Cumbrians led by 27 points as the game went into the final quarter and had to soak up plenty of pressure as a game Morpeth side showed no signs of lying down, the home defence was good but final succumbed in the last five minutes when the scrum half went over from close range.
This was an excellent win and although they were able to field a full strength pack Penrith were forced to make several changes to the back line and had pulled in a number of young players who had all performed outstandingly. They will now look to complete their home fixtures with the visit of Bridlington next week and maintain their 100% home record before two difficult away games at Driffield and Cleckheatn, second place and a play off place is in their own hands.