Penrith’s season took another step in the right direction with a hard earned victory on the road on the plastic pitch at Burnage. The fast surface suited the visitors and on the day their backs ran the home side ragged, Burnage came back into the game half way through the second half but some devastating running from deep saw the Cumbrians put the game out of sight.
Burnage are a big physical side and from the start tried to impose themselves on the game, they ran the ball up through their forwards in midfield but Penrith’s defence was up to the task and put pressure on the runners and often forced mistakes. Vice captain Ryan Johnson was to the fore with some big hits and the rest followed and slowly got the better of their hosts.
Penrith won a lineout deep in their own half and ran the ball right, Mike Hawley made the half break and when the ball came back left to Steve Wood he found Kris Bratton wide on the left on his 22, he hit Wood’s pass at pace, beat two tacklers and sped deep into the home half. He only had the fullback to beat and unselfishly drew him and put Phil Fell in who was up in support on the inside, Wood converted. He also goaled a penalty shortly after when Paul Newton snipped close to the breakdown, got in behind the first line of defence and a scrambling Burnage rearguard were penalised for handling in the ruck.
Penrith were to go further ahead when strong from a rampant Johnson and a revitalised James Thornton had the home side on the rack, Wood took the ball down the narrow side, took the tackle and played the ball round the back of the defender to Hawley in support on the inside who strode in.
The Burnage effort never faltered and was rewarded when they finally broke through and Thornton was penalised and yellow carded for killing the ball. The penalty went over and they were on the attack again just before the break in the Penrith 22 when Wood intercepted and had the length of the field to run to score. He made it to the corner, just and looked to be treading water but no one could catch him!
Penrith were 20-3 up at the break and were good value but the face of the game was to change in the second half, influential No8 Mike Raine had to leave the field which could have a bearing on what was to follow but the Cumbrians were then bossed physically and were under the cosh for 20 minutes. The home side scored from the back of a 5m scrum, further pressure yielded a successful penalty and a penalty try from a 5m scrum that looked as if it going to be a pushover levelled the scores at 20-20. At this stage the clever money would have been on the home team who had stormed back into the game rather than the visitors who looked as if they had run out of steam but the game was to take another turn.
Penrith turned the screw once more and strong running by Thornton supported by Glenn Carr was rewarded when a penalty was awarded 30m out head onto the posts, Wood’s aim was true and they were in front again. Burnage took play way into Penrith territory and again the visitors struck from deep. Hawley broke from his own 22 to half way, Wood carried on with a diagonal run the took him into the home 22 where Jon Fell was on hand to finish off a sweeping move under the posts. Back came the home side and again Penrith replied, a high clearance kick from the visitors try line was dropped on half way, Hawley was up like lightening and hacked the ball on. He had time to gather it and twist his way over.
The home supporters could not fault their side’s effort as they took play almost to the visitors line, the ball squirted lose and Ben Littleton was away, his electric pace took him into the opposition half and he selflessly put Phil Fell away inside him who outstripped the cover to go in under the posts. Again the home side came back and this time were rewarded with the try they deserved but as the ran a penalty in their own 22 to try and force a fourth, bonus point try, they would realise it was not their day as Wood intercepted again and put the hard tackling Mike Stephens in for the final nail in the Burnage coffin.
In this sort of form Penrith can put almost any side to the sword, their only problem so far this season is the defensive side to their game. Motivation, inspiration and commitment will not be a problem next week as local rivals Kendal come to Winters Park to vie for the top spot in the county, a large crowd and some passionate rugby is guaranteed.