With no win in their previous four games Penrith were delighted to come away from third from bottom Cleckheaton with a win. Although Penrith looked the better side for most of the game in the final analysis with both sides scoring three tries the difference came down to kicking ability, James Ellar, standing in for Steve Wood with a conversation and a penalty and a Mike Hawley drop goal saw them home. Although Penrith started much the better of the two it was the home side that had the 1st scoring opportunity missing a penalty in the 2nd minute. For much of the first quarter, the game was played between the 22's with neither team getting the upper hand. Penrith did take the lead and it was down to teenager Sandy Kerridge's mazy run into the home 22 stepping back inside several tacklers; the ball was killed and the breakdown and Ellar kicked the penalty head on to the posts. They extended their lead to 8pts from a scrum on the home 22, Mike Raine broke from No 8 down the blind side, found left winger Tom Armstrong who took out the last defender and allowed Paul Newton a free run in at the corner. Penrith had an 8-0 advantage at half-time and soon went further ahead, they kicked a penalty to the corner and won the line-out, the forwards tried to drive the maul over the home line, when this was brought to a standstill the ball went quickly right with two miss passes and Joe Nattrass found the ball at his feet. From a standing start he beat his winger and then had enough strength to get over as he was tackled short of the line. Ellar's conversion put them 15pts ahead. Cleckheaton missed another penalty before registering their first score, they kicked a penalty to the corner and then drove the line-out ball over. Penrith then scored the try of the game, defending deep in their 22 the ball spun loose and was secured by David Preston, before the home side could organise themselves the ball was moved quickly wide with hooker Thornton finding Nattrass with a long spin pass, Nattrass sped to half-way before linking again with the hooker who the put Mike Steven's away; his pace almost took him to the line but when he was stopped just short Raine was on his shoulder to claim the try. Cleckheaton were again 15pts down but kept plugging away and were rewarded when they were able to kick another penalty to the corner and power the line-out over for a try, the visitors were putting themselves under unnecessary pressure at this stage by not maintaining their discipline and giving too many penalties away keeping their hosts interested instead of killing them off. The game ebbed and flowed and Penrith pressed to secure the points, Ellar had a penalty go just wide before Mike Hawley took three points with a drop goal to all but seal the victory. Cleckheaton to their credit never gave in and in added time scored a consolation try but were still two scores behind with their inability to add the extras. There were several pleasing aspects to this win, Penrith were playing their first game after the departure of influential Kiwi hooker Rutledge and James Thornton took on the responsibility with some aplomb, there were two balls lost against the head in the scrummage but every lineout throw went to hand and his play around the field with ball in hand was exceptional. Ryan Johnson also had a great day, he ran the ball in hard all afternoon and almost always broke the gain line. Finally with Wood injured youngster James Ellar made his first start at stand off and had a good steady game doing the simple things right and distributing the ball well. This gives coach Stuart Connell even more options.