2nd XV
Matches
Fri 05 Nov 2021
Keswick 2s
20
24
Penrith RUFC Ltd
2nd XV
KESWICK 20  PENRITH 24

KESWICK 20 PENRITH 24

Mike Sanderson6 Nov 2021 - 13:16
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https://www.penrithrufc.org.uk

A GOOD START UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT - WELL DONE TO "SKINNY" AND THE LADS

Friday evening's game at Keswick was Penrith's second strings first game under the management of new second team manager Chris Watson. There has been a regime change at the club with Steve Reid stepping down after five years at the helm and handing over the reins to Watson who is taking over what is widely regarded as the most difficult role on the playing side in senior rugby at Penrith.
His first game in charge was keenly contested with local rivals Keswick where the result could easily have gone either way, it was played in front of a sizable crowd with a half time firework display and the clubhouse open again after the floodwaters had subsided .
Keswick started much the better of the two side and soon led with a well struck penalty, they stretched their lead with a second penalty and it looked as if it could be a long evening for the visitors. Penrith slowly got got the upper hand, their set scrummage was much superior to the home side and kept them on the back foot throughout the game.
Penrith's forwards were able to turn screw and their first score came from a 5m scrum, Tom Dawson and Chris Jackson made inroads before the home side were penalised and Fraser Nicolson was sharp enough to get the penalty taken and snipe over before the home defence was set. Shortly after Penrith doubled their lead when Nathan Allcock took an interception and ran in from half way outstripping the cover for pace. They added a third try just before the break with good defence and then a kick and chase to the line when they had turned the ball over, as the stormed the line big Dawson was on hand to force his way over. Nicolson converted all three tries and Penrith led 21-6.
There was just time to restart the game before half time, the visitors had a kick charged down in their 22 and Keswick didn't waste the turnover ball and scored a converted try of their own and Penrith's half time lead didn't look quite so comfortable at 21-13.
The firework smoke had hardly cleared the pitch when the home side scored a second try with a kick to corner, their left winger had the easy job of chasing the ball to touch down with the Penrith cover missing. This cut the visitors' lead to one point and then Nicolson added a penalty from 30m to extend the lead and despite all the huffing and puffing from both sides that's how the score remained.
Keswick had chances in the Penrith 22 but the visitors defended well and just about deserved their victory but it was a close run thing.

Match details

Match date

Fri 05 Nov 2021

Kickoff

19:30

Location

Attendance

150
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