Penrith named a much changed backline to face second placed
Huddersfield last Saturday, the scrum half, stand off and outside
centre were all
on senior debut but in differing circumstances. They came up against a
big well organised side who were very physical, especially in defence
and very effective with ball in hand. It was a miserable wet cool day
and Penrith would have had to been at their very best to make it a
close contest but they made too many mistakes in the slippery
conditions and although they lacked nothing in endeavour in the end
they gave away too many cheap scores.
Of the three debutantes it was Penrith youngster Ross Jackson who
caught the eye. The Rugby League lads did well enough, Carl Forber had
a tidy game after some early jitters and Dan Rooney ran hard and
tackled hard and was a real handful. Jackson though was playing his
first senior game at scrum half and looked about 8 stone wet through,
he threw himself into tackles like a veteran and got the ball quickly
away from the breakdown and kicked well, he looks to be one for the
future along with
teenagers Dan Richardson and JJ Key who also did their reputations no
harm
on the day.
Penriith had the worst of starts, they collected the kick off, took the
ball into contact and almost immediately lost it, the home forwards
piled on the pressure and Penrith were a score down within a minute.
They came back strongly and were soon on even terms, Phil Armstrong
chipped the ball into the 22 and the chase was good, Sandy Kerridge
charged down a panicky clearance kick, the ball was bouncing about
under the crossbar and Forber was the first to react and claim the
score between the sticks, Ben Littleton's conversion put the visitor's
noses in front.
The home side came back strongly and went ahead through a penalty kick,
they than had a second attempt and it came back off the post. Penrith
looked to counter and run the ball out of the 22 but their efforts went
unrewarded as the intended pass to the winger was intercepted and gave
the easiest of run ins. The Cumbrians conceded a third try from an
attacking lineout close to their line but kept themselves in the hunt
with a Littleton penalty. They conceded a fourth try as their defence
was stretched on the right but again bounced back to score a second try.
When they could hold on to the ball for any length of time they looked
dangerous and being able to string some possession together led to the
try, hard running by Richardson, then James Thornton and James Hogg
took play almost to the line, Thornton's next pick and drive was just
short then Joe Ellis picked and his drive saw him over the line.
Littleton's kick pulled them back to within eight points but as half
time approached they leaked a second interception try and trailed 30-17
at the break.
Try as they might they could not get back into the game in the second
half, there was no lack of effort, no lack of endeavour or bravery but
they conceded possession too easily and put themselves under increasing
pressure. Huddersfield added to their lead with a couple of penalties
before adding a try half way through the half. Their final score was a
pushover try but to their credit Penrith kept plugging away.
The bonus point system which gives a point for scoring four tries kept
them interested knowing a couple of late scores would mean they could
come away with something. They could only however manage one, Penrith's
Man of the Match, prop Glenn Carr, won a turnover on his 22, the ball
fell to Jon Fell and it was a footrace to the home line, he dived in at
the corner after outrunning the cover but that was the final play of
the game.
This was always going to be a difficult one for the Cumbrians, away to
one of the top teams in the league, a makeshift side with new faces but
you can do no better than give your all and that they did, there was no
lying down. There was plenty to take out of the game but there was one
fly in the ointment, front row man Craig Price damaged his shoulder and
will be out for a while.