Penrith lost at home to Middlesbrough by only two points at the beginning of the season and knew they had themselves largely to blame for the result gifting the North East side at least three of the four tries they scored that day. They knew if they played to their potential in this game that they should be able to turn them over even away from home. Penrith this season have been guilty of making a slow start and having to play catch up rugby but they settled the nerves on Saturday after only two minutes. Steve Wood kicked a penalty deep into the home 22, the forwards secured the ball and drove for the line, when they were held up the ball was spun. Mike Hawley received a long pass from Wood and Gavin Cartmel took a short ball on this shoulder and was running such a good line he was clean through and scored a simple try. Wood converted but Penrith then had to withstand long periods of time without the ball. Their defence was sound and had to be, the difference between the sides was Penrith's sharpness and ability to turn possession into points. Middlesbrough did get three points from a penalty as reward for their time in the visitor's 22 but it was Penrith who were to strike next. They won a shortened lineout on the home 22 and had the spare forwards in the backs; the forwards were used as decoys as the ball was moved quickly to the wing and put in Tom Armstrong's hand at the earliest opportunity on the overlap. At full tilt with the line in his sights the full back had no chance and he powered over for his first score of the afternoon. They then went close to scoring again but their footballing skills let then down, the ball was dangerously kicked through, was hacked on and then with the line at their mercy was hacked over the dead ball line. They were however next to score and again from a lineout on the 22, this time Mike Raine peeled off the tail and drove up to the line, the ball was quickly recycled and moved by Wood back in direction of the lineout and Armstrong was on hand to barge his way over in the corner for his second try, Wood's conversion eased them into a healthy 19-3 lead. Middlesbrough again had the ball for long periods and again only had a second penalty for their efforts and on the stroke of half time Wood goaled a penalty himself for a 22-6 advantage at the break. With the game as good as won at half time the second half was a largely disappointing affair. Again the home side had plenty of possession; again the pressure resulted in a successful penalty to peg the lead back by three points. Wood then had a long shot at goal, he had only missed one conversion and that hit the woodwork, this penalty shot also came back off the post but the ball was then knocked on under the posts and Penrith had a five metre scrum. The Penrith scrummage had been solid all afternoon and again won the ball, Raine broke from No.8 and when his run was checked found scrum half Toby Slack in support and he crossed for the fourth try. The fourth try secured the bonus point and then that seemed to be it, the game just meandered to its conclusion in the final quarter, that was until the game entered added time and the referee seemed to decide as they'd tried hard all afternoon the home side should have a try, he gave plenty of penalties and allowed plenty of time until after 46 minutes of starting the second half Middlesbrough got their try. It was disappointing to have conceded the try but Penrith would have taken a 27-14 win at two o'clock, they had got their win and bonus point away from home so could travel home satisfied. They could perhaps reflect on their good fortune with injuries, Middlesbrough claimed to have a least six players injured. If Penrith suffered the same fate the resources would be severely stretched.