Penrith U/13's v Kirkby Lonsdale 08/02/15

Penrith v Kirkby Lonsdale 08/02/15

A change of venue and a change in fortunes! Today the U/13’s were at French Field hosting Kirkby Lonsdale on a wonderful sunny day. The light frost overnight was quickly broken up with the warming effects of the sun and the two teams warming up. Encouraging words of advice from Gary built up the lad’s. “Pressure the opposition, forget the score, remain focused, and play your hearts out” (oh yea and “The last time we won was back in November!!!”) The boys were up for it, but so were Kirkby, like Carlisle the week before, they keen to avenge a home defeat.

Kirkby turned up with a large squad of players, Penrith had some spare capacity with four substitutes that would also allow fresh legs throughout. Kirkby kicked off and the ball neatly scooped up by Ed Smith (No 12) Penrith lost the ball early in contact, and the following scrum on the half way line. Kirkby moved the ball well and on four minutes the very handy looking centre ran in the first try, 0 – 5. Kirkby were probably playing with their strongest 15 and playing to their strengths, solid in the scrum and very good in loose play, rucking and mauling. The first nine minutes belonged to them. On ten minutes that pressure resulted in a Penrith scrum on their own 5 metre line near to the right touch line. The ball was secured and Louie Johnson (No 10) who was looking to clear his lines, broke with protocol by running in field then booting cross field. The ball didn’t have the distance and fell well short of the left touchline. An astute Callum Harkes (Temporary No 11) was determined to tidy up and retain possession. Callum caught the ball, dodged the opposition wing and found himself in space, he was off, leaving the rest trailing behind. In a great individual try Callum navigated around the full back and touched down between the posts, 5 – 5. Ed Smith knocking over, 7 – 5.
From the restart Penrith seemed to be stepping up a gear, they started to play through the middle with hard working forwards, good rucking and mauling ensuring possession. The drives forward were supported well. On thirteen minutes Louie tested the defence further with a driving run at the Kirkby line. Penrith recycled and Hugh (No 9) spun the ball out to the left with the backs ready, waiting and keen to get involved. Joe Robinson (No 13) worked his magic touching down near to the left touchline, 12 – 5. Kirkby were by no means out of it, on 19 minutes Kirkby capitalised on the loose ball on their 22 metre line. A great solo effort, (with five or six missed tackles) straight through the middle of our forwards and backs resulting in a try to the right of our posts, 12 – 10. A determined Penrith bounced straight back with pressure and good support play at the breakdown. A training ground penalty on the half way flummoxed Kirkby, Jack Wallace (No 8) on the dummy run took at least four defenders with him as Ross Ridley (No 4) received the ball at pace down the right. On the breakdown the ball was moved left and Isaac Pitchford (No 11) stopped on the try line. The forwards were “On it” and possession retained. On 27 minutes, Ben Riley (No 6) was on hand taking a short ball with a couple of metres to go, with his head down the ball was wrestled over the line, 17 – 10, half time.

The good work continued into the second half with the forwards putting in the hard yards. On three minutes the ball was rucked and passed out to the backs on the half way line, Callum Harkes again showing the opposition a set of clean heels all the way to the posts, 22 – 10, Joe Robinson bouncing the kick in off the upright, 24 – 10. Eight minutes in it was “Déjà vu” with Callum Harkes running in his third try between the posts, 29 – 10. ED Smith converting 31 – 10. On 12 minutes Penrith won the ball from the scrum inside their own half, playing with confidence they opened up the play with the backs onto the half way line. The back line however was too shallow and a stray pass went behind the winger. The opposition winger continued his forward momentum, picked up the ball and outstripped the covering back row defence for pace, 31 – 15. The conversion was between the posts, 31 – 17.
From the kick off Penrith pressed forward with determination moving the ball left, then right. Louie fed the backs and each player made ground. Joseph Newby (No 11) got a rare touch of the ball and was brought down five metres from the corner flag/try line. Penrith won the battle of the ruck with plenty of support on hand. Ross Ridley (No 4) popped out the back with the ball tucked under his right arm, he had a nose for the line and drove over taking three defenders with him, 36 – 17. Kirkby were down but not out, they had the last say on 23 minutes with an unconverted try, full time, 36 – 22.

An all-round massive improvement on last week’s game, the forwards in particular. Bryn Jeremiah (no 1) got his hands on the ball several times and still fancies himself as a back!!! Aiden Cavaghan (No 5) did some good driving runs breaching the gain line every time. Ben Riley (No 6, Mr fit!) was in the mix and never far away from the breakdown. Callum Campbell (No 6) putting in some sterling tackles. Well done to all the lads and a big thanks to the ref