Penrith could have no arguments with the result of their game against Douglas as the scoreline fairly reflected the way the game went although they might have considered themselves unlucky not to get a bonus point of some sort.
The home side fielded four teenagers and three of them were in the pack, although all four youngsters gave their all and let no one down Penrith were rather outgunned by a big strong athletic well drilled side who didn't fade at all as the game got into the final stages.
It was Penrith who looked as if they had just got off the plane as the game got underway, they were caught cold with a switched kick off and then got turned over at a lineout on their 22 when they couldn't get the ball away. Douglas had the scrum and won steady ball and when the home side infringed in midfield the visitors had a simple kick for a three point lead.
The Isle of Man side were warming to their task but it was Penrith who scored next, they were making little progress against a the strong visitor's defence until Ross Jackson made an absolute clean break on half way and drew the full back to release Jay Rossi who kept ahead of the cover to score by the posts. Jackson had been taken out late and the full back received a yellow card for his trouble which should have seen the home side with the advantage but Douglas scored two tries while he was off the field.
The visitors scored their first try from a 5m set scrum, their No8 broke and was successfully brought down before the line but after several pick and goes they rumbled over. The second try came from a scrum 10m out and was scored in similar vein with the initial attack being thwarted but good ball retention and patience winning out with the try eventually coming.
Penrith trailed 15-7 but got themselves back into the game shortly before the break, Ed Swale kicked a penalty to the corner and the forwards went for the catch and drive for the line. They managed to out muscle their bigger opponents for Lee Chapman to come up with the ball and claim the score.
Penrith started the second half well, Olly Gutteridge won turnover ball in midfield, he then fielded George Graham's kick ahead and the home side kept possession and went through the phases until Will Morgan found some space down the short side and was able to set winger Brook Birley away, his pace immediately took him away from his opposite number and he beat the full back to score in the corner.
The Cumbrian side led by two points but that was as good as it got for them, Birley got himself into space a second time and went close but it was the visitors who scored next and took the lead. They were on the attack in the home 22 when the referee stopped the game for an injury, play was restarted with a scrum some 10m out from the line and Douglas repeated the medicine from the first half and despite some brave defence, application and ball retention won the day and a third try.
With the game in the final quarter Penrith's final chance came when Birley took the ball in the inside centre channel direct from the set scrum and got almost to the line, the home side then did get the ball over the line but it was held up. They then gave a silly penalty away on the Douglas line that enabled them to get the ball away and with over 10 minutes to go that was the last Penrith saw of the ball as the visitors expertly killed off the game.
Penrith trailed by five points and would have had a losing bonus point but were giving penalties away desperately trying to get back into the game and one was kick deep into the home 22. The catch and drive try from the lineout saw the home side's bonus point disappear and the visitors earn a four try bonus point from themselves.
Penrith had not performed that badly, they were perhaps more than a little naive at times but had been beaten by a better side.