PENRITH 2NDS 14 CARLISLE 1STS 17

Penrith's second team had lost at Carlisle 54-17 on the first Saturday of the season when the club was in the midst of a serious injury crisis, they hosted them on Friday evening and with things on a more even keel were able to field a strong side and were looking to give the city's first team side a real run for their money. They did that in spades just losing out on the last play of the game.
The home side made a lively start with some incisive running by Tom Kirk and Dylan Cowperthwaite but it soon became apparent what their Achilles heel was going to be as they were struggling badly at both the set scrum and the lineout. They were also conceding too many penalties and that led to the visitors taking an early lead, a penalty kicked to the corner followed by steady lineout ball gave them the platform for the opening try and they led by five points.
Penrith then got back into the game with a piece of individuality, the city side won a lineout on half way but the service was that slow the ever alert Aaron Cavaghan intercepted the pass from the scrum half to stand off and showed real pace to leave the defence for dead and break away for a converted try.
As the first half drew to a close the visitors dominance of the set piece put the home defence under serious pressure, they defended three 5m scrum in succession and despite being trundled backwards managed to hold out with the only problem being a yellow card. Cavaghan then made another telling break supported by James Hogg and got his side into the danger area, Sonny Askins almost got around the cover on the right and Angus Dixon on the other wing could well have been in but the pass didn't come.
At the break Penrith's second string led 7-5 and were just about worth it but then had to fight hard in the second half because of their lack of ability to get clean possession from the set pieces. As the half wore on they looked to be tiring and Carlisle eventually managed to take advantage of a scrummage deep in the 22 and converted try saw them lead 7-12.
This just inspired the Penrith side to up their game and they came straight back, a strong run by Robbie Phillipson got them deep into the 22 and the city side were penalised as the home side flung themselves into contact. Big Will Morgan had the ball from the quickly taken tap penalty and was not going to be stopped from five yards. Dixon added his second conversion and the home side led by two.
As the game entered the final minutes the visitors turned the screw and were on the attack, they kicked a penalty to the corner but the home side were defending frantically and just holding them out when the game was stopped for an injury. It was restarted with a scrum for the attacking side 5m out and this time the Penrith pack who'd been on the back foot all evening couldn't hold out and were shunted over their own line for a push-over try. A heart-breaking end to a really valiant effort but they could take plenty of positives from the game and the effort and endeavour were there for all to see.