Taking the maximum points from this game is a massive boost and the performance showed some of the spark that seems to have been missing in recent weeks. The forwards competed fiercely and made good ground in the loose, ball control was far better despite the wet conditions and Paul Moss deserves a specific mention for a fine game at centre, making two of the tries with great breaks.

Despite all those positives it could have been a very different story and in reality West weren't that far away from losing this game and Penrith will be kicking themselves that they let West back in after going 10 points up with only 20 minutes to play. But West showed character and stuck to their game, playing probably their best rugby of the season so far.

Playing into the wind in the first half West had the better of possession but Penrith kicked well and pinned West deep whenever possible. The visitors opened the scoring 9 minutes in with a rolling maul finished off by hooker Callum Rutlidge and well converted by Steve Wood. West responded immediately with a try of their own, exploiting an overlap on the right with Jon Boatman finishing well.

Moss failed with the conversion but turned creator for the second try on 25 minutes, breaking from half way and jinking past three defenders before delivering a well timed pass to Peter Hodgson for a simple finish under the posts. This time the conversion was straight forward and West led 12-7 although Wood cut the deficit with a penalty goal 2 minutes later.

A second Wood penalty drifted wide just before the break leaving the visitors still trailing despite having had the benefit of the elements in the first half. However, it didn't take long for them to put things right in the second scoring two tries in 5 minutes and seemingly putting the game beyond West. First Wood slipped through a gap to touchdown under the posts and add the simple conversion before another rolling maul powered over the line and referee Dean Lythgoe eventually awarded the try after digging through the pile of bodies. A 2 point lead had all of a sudden been turned into a 10 point deficit and West just didn't look like a team capable of coming back.

It took another moment of brilliance from Moss to reignite his team, breaking through the defensive line again and this time feeding Jon Boatman for his second try of the afternoon. The conversion cut the lead further and only moments after the game restarted Phil Wallis tried a drop goal from 40 metres out and watched it sail through the posts to level the scores. It was a massive momentum shift and suddenly West were revitalised and looking hungry for the win.

Then it was Penrith's turn to fightback, running the ball well but spurning two golden opportunities to take the lead as West clung on with some desperate defence. Finally West mounted an attack 5 minutes from time and opted to kick a penalty to the corner from inside the 22. Tom Dixon secured the lineout and Dave Garside peeled off the resulting maul to score and complete the comeback.

Moss' missed conversion left Penrith hope of clinching a last gasp win and once again they had chances, most notably on the final play of the game as winger Tom Armstrong broke through, only for Moss top cap his day with an important covering tackle, ending the game as the ball was spilt into touch.

So a welcome and much needed win for West who now need to build on it in the next two games against Rochdale and Rossendale, both teams in the lower half of the table. Also important is a return to form at Brinkburn which has always been a difficult place for teams to come and win in recent years, something that it needs to be again if West want to move away from the relegation places.


West: Wilson, A Cheslin, Hodgson, Moss, C Cheslin, Wallis, Readhead, Carr, Sawyer, Howard, T Dixon, Davies (Rudd), J Boatman, Tones (Norris), Garside.
Rep not used: Connolly

Tries: J Boatman 2, Hodgson, Garside
Cons: Moss 2
Drop Goal: Wallis

Penrith: Cartmell, T Armstrong, Hawley, Kerridge, Fell, Wood, Newton, Thornton, Rutlidge, Dixon, Preston, Dawson, Johnson, Stephens, Raine.
Reps: Carr, Ellar, R Armstrong

Tries: Rutlidge 2, Wood
Cons: Wood 2
Pen: Wood


Referee: Dean Lythgoe [Carlisle]