Penrith suffered their second home defeat of the season against a capable Northwich side but will be cursing their own generosity in gifting so much possession to their opponents with misplaced passes, dropped passes and losing possession of the ball in contact. Northwich could be forgiven for thinking Christmas had come early but they did make the most of their chances and were always physical in the contact areas forcing the turn overs.
The home side arguably, on paper, turned out their strongest side of the season and started confidently. They were good value for their 12 point lead in the first quarter with two well worked tries. The first came following a lineout, James Hogg made inroads with a strong run in midfield before a half break by Ross Jackson and slick pass put Jay Rossi in the clear. He put Brook Birley away on the outside and he motored in at the corner.
The second came as a result of a quickly taken tap penalty by the ever alert George Graham, Rossi was in support and then Will Morgan took the ball to the visitor's line where a penalty was given as the visitors killed the ball. The home side opted for the 5m scrum and it paid dividends when Josh Dowson burst of the back from No8 and made the line.
The Cumbrians were possibly now a little too confident as they tried to force the game and open it up from deep in their own half. Mistakes began to creep in and a Northwich side that initially didn't really look up for it began to get a toe hold in the game and then as the home side continued to gift them possession with their imprecise play the visitors took advantage.
Northwich opened their account with a chip and chase and wicked bounce that went their way for a simple run in, the second came after a knock on from a clearance kick by the home side that gave away field position in their half. A well judged cross kick that again sat up nicely for them resulted in a second try. The sides were tied at 12 all as half time approached, Birley won turn over ball from a loose pass and took his team deep into the 22. The ball came to Dowson who ran it in hard before slipping it to Craig Price, Price then did well to take the contact and get the ball back to Dowson who fed Jackson on his outside who had a clear run in.
Penrith looked to have got their noses in front but the visitors came back before the break, a needless penalty was given away on half way, followed closely by a second and Penrith were defending a lineout on their own line, Northwich worked the catch and drive from the lineout perfectly and the home side didn't have a half time lead as they turned around at 17 apiece.
Penrith retook the lead just after half time, Birley took an interception in his own half and looked to have outstripped the cover but they did get to him and the ball was hacked into touch. The home side took a quick throw and the ball came to Olly Gutteridge who picked his way through a scattered defence to score.
Penrith's lead was cut to just two points by a Northwich penalty, Penrith then pressed to extent their lead when they did just the opposite by throwing a really poor pass to no one on the visitor's 22 that was snapped up and run immediately down the other end for a try under the posts.
Penrith's cause was not helped by injuries, they had lost Adrigh Cole in the first half with damage to his face that would later require surgery and then both Hogg and Dowson limped off unable to continue.
A fifth try for the visitors was conceded after a penalty was kicked to the corner and a sixth after a pass was dropped deep in the Penrith 22 giving a perfect attacking platform.
Penrith did keep plugging away and scored a fifth try of their own when after some expansive attacking play the visitors conceded a penalty on their own line, Lee Chapman took it sharply and set up Adam Howe who bulldozed over.