Penrith's early season troubles continued as despite leading twice in
their game at home to Billingham they lost their way in the final
quarter and finally went down by two scores and even missed out on a
losing bonus point. They did come through the game with no further
injury problems and in the next few games should have most of their
squad available after holidays, injuries and suspensions.
They knew before the game the team was pretty much patched up following
the disaster at Beverley the week before with injuries and a red card,
despite this they started spiritedly, the forwards went well and they
built and early lead.
The home set scrummage was sound, they had much the better of the
scrums and the defensive line speed excellent putting the sharp
visiting backs under pressure, Sandy Kerridge in particular got in
their faces and it was this pressure that lead to the first score. The
Billingham backs looked to spread the ball at every opportunity and as
they moved the ball to their left wing a lose ball was thrown out as
the home tacklers advanced with intent, Jon Fell read the situation
well, went and took the interception at speed and strolled in from half
way to score under the posts. Ben Littleton who has taken on the
kicking duties had the easiest of conversions to open his account and
the home side were away.
At this stage the Penrith forwards had the upper hand, strong running
by Ryan Johnson and a clever break by Joe Ellis took them to the
visitor's line, the ball was scrambled clear and the Cumbrians had a
lineout on the 22. James Thornton's throw was secured and the drove for
the line. The drive was disrupted illegally and Littleton struck the
penalty for a ten point lead.
Penrith still had the upper hand and again stormed the visitor's line,
they were using the pick and drive to some effect and captain Johnson
looked to be over the line but the score was not given and they were
awarded a 5m scrum, they won the scrum with ease but the wrong option
was taken and the ascendency then changed and it was Billingham's turn
to turn the screw.
On the stroke of half time, as so often happens at Winters Park Penrith
were under pressure in their own 22, they so often succumb just before
the break and this game was to be no different. The only difference was
after being under the cosh they managed to steal the ball on their own
line and it was the charge down off the clearance kick that lead to the
try as the onrushing Billingham centre was first to the loose ball.
Sport is all ifs and buts but Penrith could so easily have been leading
17-0 at the break but now the game was on the turn at 10-7 as they
changed ends.
The visitors soon had their noses in front, a knock on and a kick
directly into touch gave them a lineout on the home 22 with very little
effort on their behalf, the slick rugby that followed was down to them.
Good, quick lineout ball, two nicely worked rucks and the winger was
away on
the other side of the field on the overlap, chipped the fullback and
won the chase to the line. The best rugby of the afternoon.
No one could question the effort of the home side, the forwards lifted
themselves and an Ed Swale penalty to the corner earned them an
attacking lineout 5m out. They won the ball, drove for the line and it
was Johnson who came up with the try, Littleton completed his 100%
kicking record for the afternoon as he slotted an excellent kick off
the
touchline for a 17-12 lead.
With the game entering the final quarter Penrith came under more and
more pressure in their own 22, the referee finally brandished the
yellow card after yet another penalty conceded and it was young Dan
Richardson who spent 10 minutes on the touchline but could have been
anyone, he was the one that finally tested the ref's patienceonce too
often.
Billingham ran the penalty in the home 22 and the pressure finally told
against the 14 defenders and they took the lead with a converted try.
Penrith huffed and puffed to try and get back into the game but could
not get up a big enough head of steam and were unable to gain any
territorial advantage and spend any time deep in the Visitor's half.
Billingham killed the game off without too much difficulty kicking two
penalties to ease their way to victory.