Penrith got another monkey off their back as the won away from home for the first time in 18 months at Carlisle on Saturday. It was far from a classic display but Head Coach David Preston would not claim his side were the finished article and would acknowledge he has plenty to work on but after that it was an encouraging performance.
On a superbly manicured Warwick Road pitch Penrith made a lively start and were rewarded with an early penalty opportunity for Pale Tuilagi, this effort drifted just wide but he was successful with another three before half time to give his side a nine point advantage at the break.
The visitors pretty much dominated the first half, Carlisle did have a spell of possession but never threatened the Penrith line or spent any time in the opposition 22. Good work by James Boustead and Jamie McNaughton got Penrith into the home 22 where the penalty was conceded for the first score. Although the home eight were giving the visitors a hard time in the set scrum they were penalised at the scrum for Tuilagi's second penalty and the third came after Penrith won messy scrum ball on the Carlisle 22. Ed Swale tidied up and made a half break, Tuilagi wriggled through close to the line for Carlisle to kill the ball and be penalised.
Penrith looked to have negotiated their way through the first half with very few scares when on the stroke of half time the Carlisle winger cut loose in open play and ran from one 22 to the other, life was going to be a bit more difficult in the second half.
Carlisle started the second period brightly and won a penalty wide out on the Penrith 22, the attempted kick at goal landed just short but the home side's chasers were more aware of the situation than the defenders and claimed the ball under the posts. They were able to drive over the Penrith line but were held up and a 5m scrummage was awarded. This in hindsight was probably where the game was won and lost as the home pack had the upper hand. The Penrith eight held the attempted push over try but the referee judged it to be illegal and awarded a penalty. Carlisle opted to re scrum and this time the drive was held up legally and Penrith then successfully defended a number of phases of play before clearing their lines.
They could be pleased with their defensive efforts because as the league table shows, with 63 points conceded after five games they have the meanest record in the league. There defence was bolstered by Tama Toomata making his first full appearance, several Carlisle attacks were halted by his aggressive tackling and ability to turn the ball over in contact.
Although Carlisle were making a much better fight of it, it was Penrith who struck next, good work up the right wing by McNaughton and Jon Fell got them up to the home 22, a bullocking run by Jarrett Crouch took play into the danger area where the home side were penalised once more. The kick went wide and Carlisle had the drop out. The kick went long and was fielded by Ryan Johnson who set sail towards the 22, he was eventually pulled down and the ball recycled, it was Crouch's turn to run it in and as Craig Price stood in at scrum half and found Tuilagi Carlisle were running out of defenders. Quick hands by Tuilagi and Boustead released Kris Bratton in space and he ran in from the 22. The conversion made it a 16 point lead and Penrith looked home and dry going into the final quarter.
They made life difficult for themselves playing with seven forwards for the last 20 minutes as two yellow cards were given and they held out until added time, when under pressure at a five metre scrum, conceded a penalty try. If Carlisle had been able to turn their pressure into points it might have been a more uncomfortable afternoon but they defended well and can look forward to the visit of free scoring Vale of Lune to Winters Park this next Saturday.