Penrith’s injury and selection problems rather eased when they travelled to Waterloo at the weekend. They still however, started with four front row forwards on the field and two on the bench and it did catch up with them before the end of the game.
Waterloo had a big pack and were to dominate possession throughout the game and that is how the match started, the home side running phase after phase just into the Penrith half without making any real progress at least in the first half. The Penrith defence was resolute and stopped them on the gain line time and time again. Their only problem was the referee who appeared to be very particular at the breakdown, not that the Penrith players complained but they were penalised three times in the first quarter of an hour and the home side were successful with two of the kicks for a six point lead.
The Cumbrians were having to live off scraps and got back into the game when they won some rare turnover ball, First James Thornton ran the ball in and then captain on the day, Ryan Johnson before the ball came to stand off Neil Warnock who kicked a cross field ball in behind the left winger. The defence committed the ultimate rugby sin and not for the first time allowed the ball to bounce. The Penrith right winger Ben Littleton was following up at pace and the ball sat up kindly for him and he took it without breaking stroke, stepped inside the final defender on the line and went in under the posts. Warnock converted and Penrith had their noses in front on no more than a sniff of possession.
Another Waterloo penalty went wide before Penrith extended their lead, they won a lineout on the home 22, James Hogg ran the ball in at some pace, Craig Price continued the run and the home side illegally killed the ball, Warnock slotted the penalty for a 10-6 advantage.
The pattern of the game was unaltered in the main with the home side in possession and Penrith defending phase after phase, they didn’t threaten the Penrith line but they did win another penalty shot and this time it went over and there was only one point in it.
The Penrith scummage was standing up to there bigger opposition and although messy won ball on halfway, Johnson at No8 took the ball blind and drew it three defenders before they could stop him, he managed to slip the ball to Littleton on his outside who showed them a clean pair of heels and scored out wide. The conversion went wide but now their problems now began to mount.
They lost young Dan Richardson with a groin strain and because of the make up of the bench he was replaced with a prop meaning five front row men on the pitch. Littleton had to leave the field with a knee injury and the mounting penalty count then saw Warnock yellow carded just before half time. For the first time in the game they seriously threaten the visitor’s line, then eventually on the stroke of half time forced the try, the conversion was good and they had the slenderest of leads at 16-15.
Waterloo, with a one man advantage, started the second half strongly and soon scored a second try from a lineout catch and drive close to the Penrith line. They were dominating and Penrith were starting to struggle, they then lost Hogg with a blood injury and the home side extended their lead with a fourth penalty. Penrith now had six front row forwards in their pack along with Johnson and Mike Stephens and it was becoming hard work for them
Penrith were still game in possession, Kris Bratton broke into the home 22, Warnock, back on the field picked the ball and almost made the line, in then came wide to Stephens who looked as if he may have been isolated but Johnson was on hand to pick the ball, break several tackles and make the line. The conversion was good and Penrith were back within a score. They were now having awful problems holding the home pack and conceded a try from a 5m scrum. They conceded another try from close range with a pick and drive from another 5m scrum.
They thought they had struck back, Littleton back on the field with a heavily strapped knee chased a cross kick just short of the line, he appeared to flick it back inside for to Mike Hawley to score before crossing the touchline but the lineout was given and at 38-22 it looked as if the Cumbrians were going to get nothing for their troubles.
The game was in added time and Waterloo were on the Penrith line again, this time they chose to throw the ball wide, the pass was wayward and bounced loose, Littleton was ever alert and once he had gathered the ball, knee strapped or not, there was going to be only one winner of that foot race, the defenders have up their pursuit before the half way line. Littleton got his hatrick and Penrith got the four try bonus point their endeavour deserved.
It was still a frustrating defeat as it was clear with just one or two more bodies available a win would have been within their grasp.