Penrith bounced back from their poorest performance of the season the week before to put up a solid show to earn a welcome away win. They started well and took an early lead before tailing off in the first half to then play a lot better in the second half and eventually run out comfortable winners.
The only score of the first half was from the first play of the ball, Vale kicked off and the Cumbrians made a real Horlicks of taking the ball as two men called and no one went for it. The home side reclaimed possession but Tama Toomata immediately made up for the mistake as he won turnover ball which was quickly moved wide to Darren Lee via Kris Bratton and Lee made progress up the touchline before stepping back inside a couple of cover tacklers. He was eventually hauled down on the 22 and Vale were then penalised at the ruck and Mike Fearon had the easiest of chances to open the scoring, two minutes on the clock and 3-0 up.
Penrith then looked like running away with the game, their backs looked dangerous when they had the ball and the forwards went close a couple of times with attacking lineouts close to the home line. They couldn't just manage to force the next score and the home side slowly got into the game. Penrith had James Spencer to thank for maintaining their lead with a tremendous last ditch tackle as Vale threatened to score from a breakaway.
Vale had missed a long distance shot at goal but had otherwise not threatened the Penrith line. With five minutes left in the first half they, at last, spent some time in the visitor's 22 and applied some pressure, had a pass to the winger gone to hand they might have turned around in front but as it was Penrith hung on to their three point lead.
Penrith had had first use of a pretty stiff breeze so the outcome of the second half was far from obvious but they stepped up their levels of commitment and pace and were the better side in the second 40 minutes. They added to their score after being awarded a penalty on the home 22, Ed Swale tapped and went and then first Jarrett Crouch on the charge and then James Hogg left a trail of tacklers in their wake and gave captain Ryan Johnson the easy chance to touch down under the posts. With Fearon off the pitch with a blood injury Spencer slotted the conversion for a ten point advantage.
It was a very cold day with cold hands which didn't help the quality of play on show but Penrith added a second try with some good team play, solid driving play by the forwards down the left pulled in the defence and when the ball came right Pale Tuilagi in possession on the 22 was alive to the fact there was no full back behind the defensive line and chipped the ball deftly over them, Spencer was awake to the possibilities and his pace got him to the ball first and he expertly gathered the ball and reached for the line to score. Fearon's well taken conversion into the wind put the visitors out of sight and another Fearon penalty following a high tackle on Crouch sealed the victory
After conceding six tries the previous week a much better defensive performance saw them "nil" Vale Of Lune and they would be pleased with the overall result if not the lull before half time. This week sees the visit of Broughton Park where Penrith lost to the last kick of the game, they will be looking to put the record straight.