Penrith turned on the style in their attempt to win promotion out of National League 3 North, the large crowd at Winters Park were treated to a ten try bonanza as the home town side went all out to secure the league points to give themselves a fighting chance of turning Stockport over when they travel down there next Saturday.
The game was played in a good spirit on a glorious afternoon, both sides tried to open up the game at every opportunity but the home backs had the upper hand and were far too hot for their opposite numbers to handle. Penrith scored as soon as the 7th minute, the visitors were penalised and Steve Wood kicked a penalty deep into their 22. The home forwards won the lineout and drove for the line, when they were halted and the ball came to Wood, Gavin Cartmel took a short pass at pace at inside centre, made a clean break and rounded the full back. The tone of the game was set when Penrith scored from the kick off. James Thornton caught the restart, punched through the Sheffield pack, as he did all afternoon, the ball came quickly to Wood and it was rapidly moved wide and Joe Nattrass had a chance to show his pace, he went up the left touchline, cut back in to commit the cover and put the Mike Hawley away to touch down under the posts.
They scored their third when a Wood chip to the right brought Kris Bratton into the game who fielded the ball at pace, found the ever willing Thornton in support who linked with Cartmel on the charge who again outstripped the cover for pace. On 20 minutes Penrith secured their four try bonus point. From a scrum on half way Paul Newton and the back row linked to put Bratton away, he was stopped just short of the line but the forwards were soon in support and from the ruck on the line Glenn Carr appeared on the blind side to drive over.
Sheffield, despite being on the end of a drubbing, tried to play good rugby throughout the game and were rewarded with a long distance try when they ran out of their own 22, some poor home tackling down the right saw them run the length of the field. Penrith soon re-imposed themselves on the game as Sheffield pressed again, Cartmel was alive to the danger, intercepted and ran from his own 22 for his third try in the first half and a 31 - 5 lead at the break.
The second half pretty much followed the pattern of the first, Penrith scored a try through the forwards when they won a lineout in the Sheffield 22, drove for the line and Thornton broke off to score a well deserved try. Joe Nattrass was next on the score sheet when he took a Wood cross kick in his stride and sped in. As the visitors pressed again they were punished by Cartmel, he intercepted and for a second time ran from his own 22 to score to give himself a four try haul.
Sandy Kerridge came off the bench and created the next score with a mazy run up the middle of the field; he didn't quite make the line but Mike Stephens was in support and secured the ball for James Ellar to dive over.
The visitors kept plugging away and as the game drew to a close did squeeze in at the corner for a try their doggedness probably deserved. There was however time for one last score. Carr snapped up a ball in loose play and almost ran from half way to score but didn't quite have the pace to make it; but Wood was in support to take the pass and stagger the last few yards to claim the final try. The last try took the shine off this superb display as Wood's hamstring visibly went as he ran those last strides and he crossed the line in agony. All Penrith eyes will be on him this week as the Stockport game approaches, he is a hard man but it doesn't look good!

Penrith's task at Stockport is no easy one, it looks as if they will have to win by more than seven points, score four tries and not let Stockport win a four try bonus point, they might have managed against one of the teams lower in the league but this against the team second in the league, who are at home and have everything to play for. It's a big ask but after watching this game you never know.