Port secure win with close encounter against Penrith

Match Report by Theo Bowyer

There were some new faces in the forward pack with South African Andreas de Rook, Zach Walsh and Navid Mousavi all getting call ups. Luke Simpson was also in at centre.
After some good early pressure, a dream start for the aforementioned de Rook. Receiving the ball he showed an excellent turn of foot to drift past the hapless Penrith defence. 7-0 (try conv).
The pressure was coming steadily for a Port team growing in confidence and looking comfortable. Cameron Hertz, who brings real calmness to proceedings was happy to nudge the scoreboard forward with another simple penalty. 10-0. The sides would then exchange penalties to make the score 13-3.
However, Port were not going to have it all their own way and after several phases, Penrith worked the ball out wide and a subtle dummy gave them just reward. 13-10 (try conv).
Port had seemingly switched off and Penrith were starting to claim the ascendancy. The second away try, rather alarmingly, from a Port’s perspective was from the oppositions 22. Missing the first tackle proved crucial as Penrith capitalised on the home side being caught napping. 13-15 (conv. missed). For all of Port’s early dominance the away side took a slender lead into half time.

With 10 minutes of the second half elapsed, Port would go to their tried and tested. A line-out deep inside Penrith’s 22 and a catch and drive. Callum Hibbs was the recipient this time. 20-15 (try conv).
Penrith weren’t going away without a fight and drew to within touching distance with another penalty to make it 20-18.
The last 20 minutes were fast approaching and time to tighten the screw from a Port perspective and just get over the line any which way. A penalty from Tom Eaton and a five point gap, which felt big, was established. 23-18.
Yet again, Penrith bounced back almost immediately with a well worked scrum and break to the line. 23-23 (conv. missed).
With the scores now level you could sense the nerves amongst the crowd as the minutes ticked by. The game was absolutely nip and tuck and continued to follow a similar pattern. Punch for punch. Port responded with another penalty, this time from Hertz. 26-23.
All nerves were finally settled with another two penalties from the same boot and Port could breathe a sigh of relief that they had got over the line, quite literally!
Final Score.. Port 32 Penrith 23

When the game looked to be slipping away Port showed real composure and cool, calm heads to get the result.

Port travel to local rivals Macclesfield this coming Saturday in what threatens to be another classic encounter. Up the Port!