Penrith completed their September fixtures with their fourth bonus point win that sees them sitting at the top of the North 1 West league table. The early season fixtures however have been very kind to them with three home games and the short trip to Keswick, an away game at Broughton Park comes up next and that will be a better test of their mettle.
They couldn't have had a much better start against unbeaten Wilmslow as they were ahead in the first minute, play had progressed to the visitor's 22 with a ruck in the centre of the field, George Graham looked to have broken the wrong way, away from his support, as he ran laterally to the left. He popped the ball to Olly Gutteridge, running a straight line from deep at pace, he hit the gap for a clean break and swerved past the full back for the opening try.
Penrith looked the more dangerous of the sides by far, Scott Lancaster made a great break out of his own 22 and the move ended with Jay Rossi looking to have the line at his mercy when the cover just got to him. The visitors only looked dangerous when they were gifted field position by the home side's habit of conceding far too many penalties, Wilmslow reduced the deficit to two points after another home penalty which was moved forward by 10m and the penalty kick then slotted.
Penrith were then in trouble in their own 22 when Wilmslow kicked another penalty to the corner, the home forwards thwarted the catch and drive to the line from the lineout but not to the liking of the referee and the visitors went for a repeat performance but this time the throw to the lineout was not straight and Penrith were off the hook.
The Cumbrians then got the second try their attacking play deserved, Wilmslow kicked deep into the home half and stand off Ross Jackson fielded the kick and set off on a weaving run that got behind the visitors first line of defence, Ed Swale carried it on, Graham then set up Dan Richardson who charged into the 22 and when faced with the last defender slipped the ball to Lancaster on his shoulder who went in under the posts.
Penrith were sitting pretty at 12-3 but it didn't last long, they failed to gather the restart which dribbled into touch in their 22 and although it was their throw to the line the ball ran loose. It sat up nicely for an attacking forward and all he had to do was flop over for a soft try.
As the first half drew to a close Penrith looked to have regained their advantage, Rossi read a Wilmslow pass and took a smart interception and shot away, James Reynolds made it almost to the line and the support arrived to secure possession with the visitor's defence in disarray. A defender picked the ball out of the ruck from an offside position to clear the danger and received a yellow card for his troubles, a penalty try was expected to follow to only a penalty was awarded. Penrith opted for a 5m scrum and Josh Dowson from No8 went close and the half ended as Adam Howe was held up over the line.
The home side would be dissappointed to lead only 12-8 at the break but turned round with the breeze at their backs and started the second period well. Richardson broke into the 22 and got almost to the line, the visitors only held the home attack up illegally and had a second man sent to the bin. Penrith opted for the 5m scrum against 13 men. The home eight had had the better of the set scrum to press and they provided steady ball ball for Dowson who broke down the short side, fed Graham who in turn drew the last man and gave the scoring pass to replacement winger Brook Birley who took the simple chance. Fraser Nicolson's conversion went over off the touchline. Nicolson then added a 35m penalty to pull the lead out to 22-8, two converted tries but it was immediately down to one as in their hurry to move the ball wide fell victim to an interception and a converted try.
The home side went back on the offensive and were piling the pressure on in the Wilmslow 22, they had kicked a penalty to the corner and the attacking lineout had only been thwarted by foul play so again they opted for the scrum. Good steady ball enabled Dowson, Graham and Birley to repeat the trick and score in the corner, again Nicolson converted from wide out and Penrith were again two scores ahead. Nicolson added another penalty and the home side looked home and dry as the game went into added time.
Wilmslow had not made a clean line break all afternoon until a poor kick chase by the home side, the break was made and a try conceded in the corner, this looked to be no more than an irritant as the clock ticked down but the visitors scored a converted try from the restart following some nonexistent tackling and the game restarted with the lead reduced to five points. Their was a little panic in the home ranks but the game finally ended following a penalty and Swale tapping the ball and banging it into touch to the great relief of the home contingent.
Penrith had got the five points they were looking for at the start of the game but their last minute slackness had allowed Wilmslow two bonus points they didn't look likely to win right until the end.