Penrith's troubles continued as they lost their fourth home game of the season, this time to Broughton Park, a side below them in the league. At the turn of the year they were sitting comfortably in the middle of the league nicely placed only four points, one win, away from second place but they do appear to have hit the buffers since then. A decent performance away at Stockport has been followed by the no show against Wilmslow and two below par home performances.
The visitors had first use of the elements on Saturday and started the game with a near gale at their backs. They were ahead in the second minute after Penrith conceded a penalty in their own 22 for a high tackle which was easily knocked over with the wind.
The home side didn't start well and were again soon under pressure this time at the first set scrum, they were driven back rapidly off their own ball under the posts and although Scott Lancaster did well to get the ball away there was a knock on and the visitors had the put into the scrum 5m out. They attempted to shunt the set scrum and didn't quite manage but rumbled over as they set up forward drives from the possession under the posts, the conversion went over for a 10 point lead.
At this point things were looking ominous for the home side but they did improve and get into the game and show a bit of form themselves. Jay Rossi and Jon Fell combined to set Fell away up the left and they almost chased down a chip ahead.
Broughton Park then came back at them and when awarded a penalty some 20m out opted for the set scrum with the intention of repeating their early dominance. They got the squeeze on and the scrum went down, they were awarded a penalty which they took quickly and almost got over the line but Penrith were penalised again, this time on their own line. The visitors again, understandably, opted again for the set scrum but then the home coaches opted to alter their front row set up and prop Adam Howe was sent on off the bench.
The Penrith scrummage was transformed, as the visitors again put the squeeze on, the Penrith eight didn't move an inch and the No8 broke and went for the line, Broughton Park were held up over the line and again at the ensuing scrum the outcome was the same, the home scrum did not budge and the attack was successfully repelled. The visitors held their 10 point lead at the break but because of the strength of the wind the lead did not look insurmountable as there was not that much between the two sides.
Penrith almost trailed by 17 points as the second half started, the wind held up a kick ahead and the ball bounced kindly into the hands of the Broughton Park chaser but he lost control of the ball as he went over the line and the try was disallowed but it was a close run thing.
Penrith then did their best to peg the visitors back and they had their chances, Josh Dowson couldn't control the ball with an open field in front of him and Rossi looked to be clean through but was just chased down. They did eventually manage to break the stubborn Park defence down from a 5m scrum, steady ball came to Matt Allinson who fed it to Mason Lewthwaite. He made the half break and was able to play the ball out of contact to Allinson who by this time had succeeded in getting on his outside and went in under the posts. There was 25 minutes to go and the home side trailed by three points and it looked like game on.
The home supporters joy didn't last long as Penrith failed to retain possession at the restart and gifted ball to the visitors on their 22. If Park were efficent at anything it was retaining possession of the ball and they rumbled slowly further and further into the home 22 until they were on the line and then spun it right and with a man over scored in the corner.
Penrith had the final quarter to make up the eight points but they saw very little of the ball as the visitors held on to it for long periods, frustrated the home side and slowed the game down at every opportunity. Penrith never really threatened but did get a penalty in the 22 which Allinson knocked over to get them within five points and win a losing bonus point.
It was a disappointing day for Penrith but although they didn't play as well as they would have liked there was plenty of effort, the defence and tackling was generally sound, when you are in a poor run and confidence is low you just have to keep plugging away, do your best and wait for a break. They travel to Douglas this week and their results haven't been startling of late so you never know.