PENRITH 48 DOUGLAS (IOM) 7

Penrith bounced back from their poor showing in their first game of the season at Stockport with a resounding win at home to Douglas from the Isle of Man. It would not be an easy day for the visitors though, crossing the Irish Sea on Saturday morning, travelling up the M6 to Penrith and then only arriving 20 minutes before kick off, hardly ideal preparation.
Kick off was delayed but the home side were soon into their stride, a clean break by Jay Rossi enabled him to release Jamie McNaughton who took play into Douglas territory where they were penalised. The penalty was kicked to the corner, JJ Key secured the lineout ball and the home forwards drove over the line and it was Scott Lancaster who came up with the ball and the try. Mike Fearon converted for an early seven point lead.
One of many bruising runs by Key set up the home side's second score, he took play up to the visitor's 22 and from the breakdown the ball was zipped quickly wide by the backs for Steve Cherry to cut back inside the cover to score.
Douglas then got themselves into the game and Penrith conceded a couple of penalties to give them field position and they ended up being held up over the home line. A poor clearance kick then from the home side was allowed to bounce about and was then snapped up and the home defence were caught napping and they conceded a soft try close to the posts. The conversion cut the Cumbrian's lead to only five points but they weren't long in restoring their advantage. From the restart Penrith won turn over ball, Lancaster beat a couple of defenders then set McNaughton away, he then fed Rossi who cut back against the grain to score a nice try, Fearon converted and the home side looked comfortable again.
They soon pulled their lead out further, Key made 20 yards off the back of the scrum breaking from No8, Ed Swale was in support and quick hands then put Cherry in space and he scored his second try in the corner. In the final 10 minutes of the first half the home side might have scored a couple more tries but they turned around with a handy 26-7 lead and the game as good as won.
Penrith put early pressure on the visitors who conceded a penalty that was kicked into the 22, although the lineout was not perfect Penrith were able to get good ball to McNaughton who was able to beat his man on the outside and score from just outside the 22.
Penrith's next try was to come from Josh Dowson who was fresh off the bench, from a Douglas scrum in their own 22 Swale was able to disrupt possession at the back of their scrum. The ball ran loose and was pounced on by Dowson who used his pace to beat two men to cross for the score. The Cumbrians scored next after Dan Richardson stole the ball at the visitor's lineout, Fearon hoisted a cross field kick and McNaughton won the ball in the air and despite the close attention of his opposite number was able to twist and spin over for his second try.
Penrith's final score came after a barrage of attacking drives by the forwards with Fraser Nicolson to the fore now at scrum half switching attacks, it was finally Andy Muir who barrelled over for a well deserved try and topped off a good home win which put their points difference into positive territory.
Penrith had played well in both attack and defence but the trick will now be to travel away from home this Saturday and bag an away win at the Vale of Lune, away wins are a rare commodity in this league with only three from the 14 games played to press.