Penrith Senior Colts reached the quarter-finals of the Halbro North West League Cup with a superb 24-0 victory away to Sedgley Park Colts.
A squad of 17 travelled down to Manchester, backed up by a good number of parents and supporters. This was the teams’ third meeting this season, with both having won their respective games at home.
It was a game of two halves, and Penrith won both. They scored one try in a tight first half, playing into a headwind and slight incline, and three in the second period.
Once on the pitch for the warm-up, both Penrith coaches, Stuart Hook and Julian Parry, were quick to get the team into the right frame of mind.
From the kick-off, the pack made an impact, carrying over the gain line on the rucks and challenging the home defence. The backs were hungry to do their bit as well, and it did not take long to lay down their mark. On seven minutes, inside centre Thomas Connell started and finished the opening try — his first of three.
He took the ball into contact on the opposition’s 22m and made a timely offload that kept the momentum moving forward. Quick to his feet, he followed up, picking up the loose ball to crash over with an outstretched arm.
The home side then knew the danger the visiting backline could pose given the space to operate in. Penrith kept the game tight up front and played most of the first 40 minutes defending in their own half.
On more than one occasion the home side were inside the visitors’ 5m line, with the big players pounding away on the fringes of the rucks. The Penrith pack did an outstanding job to keep them out, as did the backs, closing down and making solid tackles. Twice Sedgley Park made an overlap out wide and twice it was knocked on.
In the second half the game opened up as the pack began to dominate. It was now Penrith’s turn to play in Sedgley’s half for most of the game. Everyone wanted the ball in possession and everyone stood up to the defensive challenge. Just seven minutes into the half, Connell finished off some slick three-quarters handling, sprinting into the right corner to make it 10-0.
Midway through the half, fly half Ashton Hook capped one of his many elusive breaks with his trademark sidesteps and dummy passes to go in under the posts. Full-back Angus Dixon added the extra two points.
The home side tried to rally but had only brief encounters into the Penrith half through conceded penalties.
In the last minute of the game, Connell put the icing on the cake for the team and himself, sealing the a win and his hat-trick. Another combination of good forward domination, quick ball and assured handling, his strength in the tackle and speed put him into space and over just to the right of the posts. Angus added the extras.
It would be wrong to highlight individuals for outstanding performances as it was a great team effort, However, congratulations have to go to Connell for his-hat trick, which was well deserved, as was the victory.
The next round will be at home to the unbeaten Broughton Park Senior Colts on March 24.
