One swallow doesn't make a summer and four rugby games do not
constitute a season but what a difference the final four games have
made. Two wins in the final games of the league programme to guarantee
level five rugby and two wins to secure the county cup and put a gloss
on the end of the season.
Sport is a series of "what ifs" and Penrith are lucky they are not
having to go back through the season working out where it all went
wrong, there have been too many situations where games have been lost
at the death, too many vital bonus points have been frittered away that
could have made all the difference. It was an awful close run thing
down at Altrincham, two and a half minutes from relegation before the
boot of Steve Wood secured the slimmest of leads, 150 seconds from
despair and then the relief of captain Mike Raine's try from the last
play of the game made it safe. But all that can be put aside for a calm
look back.
The teams playing record in all competitions is played 29, won 13, lost
16, points for 708 and against 680. Of the 29 league and cup games
played throughout the season only Mike Raine has appeared in them all,
Steve Wood and Mike Hawley missed only one and Paul Newton and Gary
Hodgson two. 92 tries have been scored all told and the top try scorer
was James Ellar with 15, Phil Fell scored 13, his brother Jon and Mike
Hawley both bagged 10. Top points scorer was Steve Wood with a grand
total of 262 (6 tries 59 conversions and 38 penalties).
35 players were used in all but this gives rather a false impression as
only 20 players reached double figures of appearances which does
indicate the limited number of players in the squad. Ian McDowell, Rob
Dawson, Mike Raine, Paul Newton and Steve Wood have formed the back
bone of the team but there have been some pleasing additions, Billy
Barton has stepped up from the second team, commited himself to first
team rugby and made a lasting impression. Craig Price turned up at
pre-season as a young hooker and has played his way into the side,
showed endless enthusiasm and is one for the future.
The better showing as the season drew to a close had an awful lot to do
with Mike Stephens shift patterns altering making him available
regularly and the return to form of James Thornton after a badly broken
leg last season. The return of Nigel Beaty has got the club buzzing and
we can only look for better things next season