Penrith took on top of the table Chester with a much changed side, over
20 players were unavailable through injury, work commitments or
whatever so consequently the team that took the field was not as strong
as it might be. It was always going to be a big ask away from home
against a side that has only lost one fixture in the first half of the
season, and so it proved to be.
This is not about those that didn’t play but those who did and the
performance they put in for the club. Chester are a very useful outfit,
certainly the best side Penrith have played this season and probably
the best side in this league for a season or two. Penrith could have
done with a solid start but couldn’t quite manage it, the home side
were fast out of the blocks and opening play out and attacking wide at
every opportunity, Penrith were scrambling in defence and holding their
own, just and had a kick charged down to concede a soft try under the
posts. Shortly after they conceded a penalty head on to the posts and
were 10 points down in as many minutes.
Chester scored tries regularly through the first half but they were
made to work for their scores. The Cumbrians first up tackling was
good, there were no easy line breaks or falling off tackles. The hosts
were just good enough to string the phases together, be patient and
move play from one touchline to the other until they created the space
out wide to take advantage. They have racked up 565 points in 13 games
and it was easy to see why, they are a proper rugby side and played
some super stuff and had Penrith chasing shadows.
Although it was 47-0 at half time Penrith’s men stuck to their task
and gave their all, they were making Chester work for their scores and
after an early second half try there was a 20 minute period without a
score. Although they were never going to get back into the game at this
stage they did win an increasing amount of possession and were able to
play a bit themselves. On the positive side the set scrummage was
probable as solid as it has been all season, the lineouts functioned
well and Neil Warnock in his first game for the club at stand off
looked the part as Steve Wood had to sit the game out on the bench with
a muscle pull.
With just over ten minutes to go Chester scored a couple of well taken
tries before Penrith got on the scoreboard, first Warnock with a
penalty and then a well deserved try for young Richardson who had
acquitted himself well all afternoon. The score at the end did not make
for pretty reading but those that saw the game know it was far from a
disaster and there was plenty of guts, determination and spirit on
show. Opposing teams in the league who just look at the scores could be
in for a shock when they come to Winters Park.