It's far too early in the season for talk of "must win" games but if
Penrith are to avoid scratching about at the end of the season looking
over their shoulders to avoid relegation they need to put away out of
form sides like Morley without too much trouble. This they did
reasonably clinically although they did allow them to stage a fight
back in the closing ten minutes.
They started on the offensive, as early as the third minute they showed
their intent. A quickly taken tap penalty saw captain Ryan Johnson
ripping into the defence, the ball came to James Thornton who showed
some pace to tear through a gap, drew the last man in unselfish
training ground style and put Joe Ellis in for a simple try, Ben
Littleton converted and it was the perfect start.
Perhaps it was a little too perfect and they were resting on their
laurels but a string of missed tackles saw them trailing within
minutes. First a try came from an attacking lineout out on the Penrith
22, the ball came into midfield and the visiting centre broke through
to score under the posts without a finger being laid on him. The
conversion went over and Penrith kicked off only to miss a tackle on
the winger who took the ball, play quickly moved on to the home 22
where they conceded a penalty and they were behind 7-10 as the kick
sailed over.
Penrith were much better than that and came storming back, their rugby
league connection were instrumental in retaking the lead. Running back
a clearance kick Dan Rooney made a storming outside break then found
Carl Forber with an inside pass and he had a clear run to the line
making Littleton's conversion a formality.
Play was see-sawing from one end to the other, Penrith regained
possession in their own 22 and spread the play as the breakout looked
on. Thornton found himself at outside centre but put Jon Fell away, he
broke one tackle and stumbled through the next but was able to regain
his feet to out pace the cover, round the last man and go under the
posts.
Penrith were again defending in their own 22, Rooney was on the prowl
looking to put in the hits but it was Sandy Kerridge who put in the
biggest hit of the day. Morley went blind and put their winger down
Kerridge's channel, the tackle was so ferocious the ball span lose and
was gathered by Littleton. Not only was the visiting winger rubbing his
wounds but watching Littleton disappearing into the distance as he ran
over three quarters of the length of the pitch to score.
Penrith completed their scoring in the first half as Morley attempted
to run the ball out of their own 22, the ball ran loose and was snapped
up by Johnson who ran it in, Thornton ran it in again and when it came
wide Littleton made the half break and set Kerridge away, as he cut
back in on the angle he scythed through the cover to score.
The Cumbrians led 35-10 at the break and soon added to their total, the
next try was a wonderful team try, the ball must have gone through at
least 30 sets of hands, with Mike Stephens and Paul Newton being
instrumental before Gary Hodgson went over in the left hand corner.
This was the only kick Littleton was to miss, he hit the next one off
the right hand touchline when Hodgson crossed for a second time and
again from a flowing move involving virtually every home player on the
pitch.
The game petered out somewhat in the final quarter, Penrith's
influential captain Johnson left the field as did Newton, with the win
all but guaranteed and the four try bonus point in the bag the effort
dipped marginally. To their credit the visitors were alive to this and
upped their effort to claim two late tries, another would have seem
them claim a bonus point of their own but they could not manage that
but did make the score look more reasonable.
Penrith could be pleased with their efforts, they will be a tougher
test next week in the shape of Sale but they must be pleased with the
form of their forwards. They are not playing on the back foot this
season, are looking to dominate where possible and are even holding
their own in the set scrums and winning ball against the head. Hooker
Thornton was named Man of the Match but it could easily have been Ellis
who was again outstanding, the hardworking James Hogg or Hodgson who
broke the line with his running on numerous occasions.
Behind the scrum things are coming together as well, they are scoring
tries from distance which they weren't doing in the opening games, the
form of Littleton is outstanding and Jon Fell is looking a real handful
as his confidence returns, with the league lads Rooney and Forber
settling in things should only improve.