Penrith looked to have a stern test on their hands trying to get anything out of their
game against second in the table Rossendale on Saturday. Rossendale may
not be the prettiest of sides, they don't play attacking attractive rugby but they do
pose a stiff physical challenge and you have to match them tackle for
tackle and hit for hit before you can play any rugby of your own.
Penrith did step up to the mark and did dominate them as they knew they
had to and had by far the better of the first half, play was hardly out
of the visitor's half but Penrith initially struggled to turn pressure
into points. They did create chances though, Mike Raine had a good
afternoon and he troubled them all game breaking from the back of the
scrum, on one occasion he made good yards before putting away winger Ed
Swale, he chipped the fullback and looked favourite to score as he
chased down his kick but the ball squirted out of his path.
Steve Wood caught out the narrow Rossendale defence with diagonal kicks to
the corner and on three occasions it would be easier to score than
not, an oval ball can be a cruel thing and all three chances went begging. The pressure was coming to bear though and Wood did ease the home side in front with a penalty. The chance continued to come, James Ellar went close when a pass came to him at ankle height, he used his footballing skills to hack the ball on in behind the visitor's back line but again it just didn’t quite come off.
Penrith finally did get the try their first half performance deserved when they outplayed Rossendale at their own game, Wood kicked the penalty to the corner, the lineout ball was secured and the forwards drove for the line, they took their opposite numbers on at their strong suit and out muscled them driving over the line for hooker Ian McDowell to score.
Penrith have a habit of conceding points on the stroke of half time, in the ten minutes the official added the visitors scored a penalty and for the first time in the game looked dangerous, as added time dragged on the home side were grateful to hear the whistle for the break and turn round 8-3 up. Their play should have earned them a more substantial lead but they had their noses in front against a powerful outfit.
Rossendale started the second half as they finished the first, on the front foot. A home knock on from the kick off gave them possession in the Penrith 22 and they came away with a penalty to narrow the gap to 8-6.
Penrith had started the game with two props on the bench and by this stage had used them both, James Lund and Glenn Carr were off the pitch nursing injuries and Penrith were not having their own way in the scrummages. They scrummaged on the visitor's 22 and their possession looked to have been disrupted as the scrum wheeled, Raine as he so often does tidied the mess up and set Gary Hodgson on his way, he skipped out of the first tackle and from 20m out had a clear rum to the line. Wood's conversion gave Penrith a bit of breathing space.
Rossendale are a difficult side to defend against if they are camped in your 22, defending against them on half way is a much easier prospect because as effective as their driving mauls and strong running close to the breakdown are they do not pose a real threat from distance. The next 20 minutes was to be played almost exclusively in the home 22, Penrith were under enormous pressure in the set scrum and could not find the time and space to clear their own line. They were down to 14 men when Rob Dawson was carded and were further hampered when Ryan Johnson was unable to scrummage with a twisted ankle. In the spirit of the Penrith effort he stayed on the field and did what he could as they defended for all they were worth.
The pressure was telling, The visitors missed a reasonably easy shot at goal but were eventually rewarded with a try, a typical effort, a penalty to the corner, lineout, catch and drive.
At 15-11 Penrith’s cause looked on the wane but the game was to swing again, whether Rossedale’s big men up front ran out of puff or thought they’d done enough wasn’t clear, it may be the increase intensity by the home side was to tell but anyway the game was now being played in midfield and life was much easier for the home side. They were able to exert some pressure themselves in the visitors half and Rossendale’s defenders were on the back foot. They were caught offside twice head on to the posts and Wood’s kicks pushed the Cumbrian’s lead out to two scores and the win was in the bag.
Penrith have not had the best of seasons and have been guilty at times of not fronting up, but not today, the first up tackling was excellent, the three quarters defence was as steady as it has looked all season and when the going got tough they dug in. Typical was young Craig Price who came on as replacement and was having all sorts of problems in the scrummage, he just stuck to his task and sorted the job out.
Special mention must be made of Paul Newton who has a groin strain, played regardless knowing he was going to have a painful afternoon, put in a top quality performance as he always does and was an integral part of an outstanding win.
If Penrith put together one or two performances of this quality they will be able to put their relegation problems behind them and start planning for another season at Level 5.