Penrith lost out in their derby with near neighbours Kendal in a hard
fought game in front of a large crowd. They matched them and outplayed
them in most facets of the game but in a five minute period in the
final quarter were unable to contain the Kendal set scrummage and
conceded two penalty tries which was where the game was won and lost.
There was no quarter given as the game started brightly with both sides
attempting to stamp their authority on the proceedings. It was Kendal
who opened the scoring with a well taken drop goal and Penrith struck
back with a Pale Tuilagi penalty after Jarrett Crouch was taken out
with a nasty tackle off the ball.
The visitors then had the upper hand and forced a series of penalties,
two kickable penalties went wide and when a third was awarded they
changed tactics, they kicked to the corner for position but the ball
went dead in goal and it was then the home side's turn to mount a bit
of pressure.
Penrith were also guilty of missed chances as a penalty attempt went
wide and in the final play of the half there could have been a score at
either end. Jon Fell made ground into the visitor's 22 but the ball
went loose and was picked up by the defenders who broke out and kicked
ahead only for Ed Swale to come to the home sides rescue. He gathered
the ball in his own 22, shrugged off the chasers and launched a kick
deep into the opposition 22, the full back attempted to run it out of
trouble but they were penalised at the breakdown on their 22 and
Penrith had a chance of a half time lead, that penalty also drifted
wide.
Kendal were first to score after the break with a second drop goal but
Penrith came straight back and scored the first try of the game. After
stringing together some strong running phases of play straight off the
training ground James Hogg and Crouch combined to take play deep into
the opposition 22, Tuilagi came into scrum half at the ruck, had time
to look around and assess the situation and picked his way to the try
line close to the breakdown. His conversion put the home side ahead for
the first time at 10-6.
Penrith then looked to have the game under control and played some
decent rugby, Kris Bratton made a couple of clean breaks but could not
link up with the support to finish them off. The Kendal pack then took
over and earned two penalty tries as they opted for scrummages from
penalties and created the pressure that made their strength count.
Penrith did manage one further score to earn a losing bonus point, a
mid field charge by Ryan Johnson where he bounced off several would be
tacklers took play to the 22 and after a number of phases the visitors
were penalised at the breakdown and Tuilagi slotted the penalty.
Although bitterly disappointed with the result this new look Penrith
side could take some heart from the way they had played for most of the
game and the number of Kendal players going down injured was testament
to their commitment.