Penrith look to bounce back

Penrith were looking to put the traumas of last season behind them but the game was not without its positives for Wigton, not least in the return of Chris Pattinson after missing two seasons and looking in pretty good shape, being the pick of the Wigton backs.

Wigton got off to a good start by scoring the opening try. Quick hands in the midfield from prop Russell McLean enabled centre Richard Moffatt to get outside Penrith's blitz defence to make ground and release his right winger, Ryan Clark for a run into the 22. The ball was recycled and quick hands gave left winger Steve Harris a run. He jinked inside Pale Tuilagi and had the strength to hold off the covering defence and score. 0-5 to Wigton.

Penrith levelled the score with what Wigton will feel was a disappointing try to concede. A strong shove from the home pack pushed Wigton off their own ball, but with the line defence holding firm, Tuilagi had a shot at a drop goal. His kick was pushed wide and seemed set to bounce dead. Instead it bounced back infield and Penrith's energetic young flanker JJ Key followed up to grab the ball and touch down.

Shortly afterwards, quick hands from Penrith gave right winger McNaugton the chance to take play into the Wigton 22. The ball was recycled and move left. South African prop Jarrett Crouch picked up a bouncing ball and made further ground. As the Wigton defence rushed to reorganise, scrum half Ed Swale went through a gap close to the ruck for Penrith's second score, improved by Tuilagi for a 12-5 lead.

Wigton looked to hit back and a strong bustling run by Pattinson looked promising but the position was lost due to a subsequent knock on. Wigton's cause was not aided when referee Martin Denvir was unappreciative of Mclean's frustrated toe poke as a maul collapsed, and flourished the yellow card.  

At scrummage time, Wigton actually coped pretty well after the first effort by Penrith. Quick strokes by Richard Jackson and good work at the base by no8 Stuart Creighton, salvaged most of our own ball, albeit often under pressure. Another feature of the match was the danger of Penrith's backs when given space, often coming when clearing kicks failed to find touch.

A case in point was the next try. A long kick rolled into the home 22 but an indifferent chase enfeebled dangerous left winger Darren Lee to make ground. Tuilagi pulled defenders onto him before releasing McNaughton in space. He outpaced one defender and beat another with footwork, running sixty yards to score and give Penrith a 17-5 halftime lead.

This was a fair reflection of play. Penrith's pack kept them on the front foot at scrum time and their lineout looked comfortable, with more options than their opponents. Gardham at the front had joy picking off ball on Wigton's throw.

The follies of missing touch were shown early in the second half when a penalty kick only found the arms of Lee in his own half. He ran the ball back, showing strength and pace to avoid four would-be tacklers to go under the posts for an excellent individual try, which Tuilagi converted to make the score 24-5.

The catalyst for the next try was a powerful charge by second row Ryan Johnson, with the best carry of the match by a forward. He took play deep behind the defensive line and centre Kris Bratton attacked the outnumbered defenders, finishing impressively to go under the sticks. With the score now 31-5, Wigton were further handicapped by the departure through injury of fly half Gregg Smith.

Penrith's next try was a well-worked set move from a midfield scrum which saw McNaughton given room on the left flank. He showed good finishing skills to chip over the last defender and win the race to the touch down.

With score 36-5 and twenty minutes to go, the home supporters were hoping for try fest to finish off the afternoon. It to Wigton's credit that they rolled up their sleeves and denied Penrith that finish. The kicking game avoided inviting counter attacks, and by denying Penrith's back space in which to run, Wigton's defence held firm. The visitors added to their score when Marrs seized on a loose ball from a rare error at Penrith's lineout, and put himself at the heart of a driving maul which charged deep into the home 22. Penrith were penalised at the breakdown and Wigton opted for a mauling set move which bundled The deserving Creighton over the line. Charters converted for a 36-12 score.

Charters looked to add to the tally when a backs move saw him in the 22 and heading for the line. However, Penrith scrambled back and hauled him down from behind.

There was no doubt that, come the final whistle, Penrith were deserved winners. On this form, with a solid pack and threatening backs, they are well-equipped to mount a challenge to win promotion at the first time of asking. It will be interesting to see how they manage against the likes of Kendal's pack on a heavier pitch.

As for Wigton, we were architects of our own downfall in a number of tries and will feel that we can improve on things for the visit of Warrington next week. It may well transpire that we have already got out of the way an difficult away fixture against one of the early promotion favourites