It was a poignant day in what was the very last home game for this talented group of lads. The squad gave the club, parents and supporters a spectacular finale with a cup semi-final win over Chester Senior Colts. The club's long-term investment in youth rugby will be all the more richer as they move up into senior rugby next season. The majority have been together since U8s, under the guidance of coaches Stuart HOOK and Julian PARRY, they will now make preparations for a tough cup final against Sandbach at Heaton Moor RUFC, Stockport on Sunday 28th April 3:30pm kick-off.

Chester was in a rich vein of form, they narrowly lost out to Newport (Salop) U18s in the semi-final of the National U18s Cup and have also made it into their County Cup final. They had a belief this game was a formality for them, instead they were confronted with true Cumbrian grit, determination and pure talent. 

From the off Penrith came out of the blocks fast and took the game to Chester with a real sense of purpose. Both forwards and backs combined nicely to make good progress into the visitor's half. Inside centre, Harley Johnson punched a hole in the defence but was tackled just shy of the line with just minutes on the clock. The visitors had a scrum from the ruck and exited with a deep kick onto halfway. They took full advantage of a scrum from the line-out, their first venture into Penrith’s half resulted in a neat chip and collect by the winger into the corner. A sucker punch against the run of play but one that was soon rectified. The next score was Penrith’s, James BENT at fullback started and finished from a deep clearing kick that failed to make touch. The ball was re-cycled from several rucks and eventually spun wide right, an injection of pace and a nifty side step took him to the line to open our account. 
From the re-start we were straight back on the front foot, courtesy of a tremendous Isaac MURRAY boot and their belief they could run the ball out from their try line. With the ball turned over it went out wide to find James stepping up into the backline, two very sweet side steps later he was over under the posts. Angus DIXON added the extra two points. 

The re-starts were the only brief opportunities the visitors were managing to get in our half. Isaac at fly-half was next on the score sheet, from a ruck at first receiver he kicked a deep chip to the right wing. A lucky bounce and a fruitful chase saw the ball pop back into his hands and over for the next try and another seven points. In eight minutes, Penrith had set the ball rolling with a tally of 19 points. The pack's work rate was top-notch, ball carrying off the rucks, retention and support at the breakdown was exceptional. The next score came from Angus on the left wing, he made an elusive break up onto the 5m line with the forwards quick to support they recycled. Wing forward Cohan SANDERSON gathered at pace, and with an angled run he crashed over for another great team score. Angus kicked the extras from the touchline into a heavy swirling wind. Our last score of the half came from a loose ball bobbling out at the base of a ruck on the visitors 22m. Lock, Oscar GOLDING hacked the ball on before a defender could get hold of the ball. Another defender backtracking fumbled and once again the bounce was kind. In the last five minutes, our penalty count went from 1 to 6. A rare opportunity for Chester to spend some time in Penrith’s half but our defence was strong and stood up to the test. 

The second half was much tighter but started as we finished with another well-deserved try in the second minute from kick-off. A break by right-wing Jude DOBINSON on halfway took him up onto the 22m, slick handling and timely offloading in the tackles found centre, Andy CONNER in support with just yards to go. Our final score of the game came ten minutes into the half and was almost a carbon copy of our last try. The forwards made the hard yards by drawing in the defenders and repeatedly crashing over the gain line. Our centres did the same before releasing Jude on the right. Isaac’s tireless support play was again rewarded as he gathered a beautiful offload, he then rounded the last defender as the posts beckoned. 45 – 5. In the last fifteen minutes, our defence was again breached for a second and last time after another run of conceded penalties. Chester took a 5m scrum, a number 8 pick-up and several rucks later gave them a deserved seven points. Full time score, 45 – 12.

A great team effort and a tremendous first-half performance to be proud of, well done and good luck in the final.