Penrith were delighted to get their National Three North season away with a 28-26 win from a tough looking opener at fancied Sheffield Tigers. The Tigers looked slick from the start and were unlucky not to score early on when they were penalised for crossing with the line at their mercy. But in a five minute period Steve Wood gave the visitors a 9-0 lead as Tigers were penalised three times for lying over the ball. The Sheffield side hit back after 18 mins when they won a line-out five metres out and although the Penrith forwards held firm the ball was spun out to the blindside winger who broke through the middle to score under the posts and reduce the deficit with the conversion. Five minutes before half-time Mike Raine stole the ball in the line-out and made good ground up to the Tigers 22. The ball was recycled and Wood moved it wide for Gavin Cartmel to beat his man and touchdown for a 14-7 lead at the break. Sheffield started the second-half with a bang and put pressure on in the Penrith 22 with a series of forward drives. They eventually succeeded in crossing the visitors’ line after only three minutes and could have taken the lead but they then missed a penalty. Penrith responded well and when the ball was moved quickly to Mike Hawley at outside centre the new signing scythed through the home defence with a telling break which was completed by Cartmel who put Tom Armstrong in at the corner. Wood’s conversion from wide out gave Penrith a 21-12 advantage. Bit within two minutes the Tigers had closed the gap. Again they set-up the blindside winger and he made a clean break through the middle to score under the posts. The conversion was a formality. The home side then upped the tempo and took the lead with 18 minutes remaining. They were camped in the Penrith 22 and forced their way over with a series of forward drives close to the breakdown. Trailing 26-21 at this stage Penrith looked out on their feet but their determination could not be questioned as they had much the better of the final quarter and again had Hawley to thank for the eventual victory. Again he made another searing break which Armstrong again finished with aplomb and Wood’s difficult conversion put the visitors ahead with two minutes left on the watch. Penrith hung on, although the Tigers did have a long penalty attempt that fell short. It was an excellent, all-round performance with everyone playing their part. The backs scored the points but the big worry pre season had been whether the Penrith pack, which is unchanged from last season, could cut the mustard a level higher. This they did and matched their opposite numbers all the way providing, in the main, steady scrum ball and more than matching them in the line-outs. Steve Wood's boot proved crucial, kicking five out of six shots at goal and giving an object lesson in the kicking game.