A strangely calm and sunny Winters park greeted Carlisle in this local derby, but appearances can be deceptive, and Penrith certainly turned up the heat in the second half to deny Carlisle from taking anything away from this match.

Carlisle started the brighter of the two teams, and spent most of the first 10mins camped in the Penrith half. They got just rewards for their efforts, as an infringement at the breakdown by the home side, gave fly half James Telford a relatively straightforward gift of 3 points from the resulting 30m penalty.

Penrith were gaining the upperhand in the set piece though and a penalty at a Carlisle scrum gave Penrith's fly half Mike Fearon the chance to level the scores 6 minutes later.
Another penalty opportunity shortly afterwards was just pulled wide left, but Penrith were serving notice they could be dangerous on the front foot, as they continued to explore ways to break through the Carlisle defensive line. A series of penalty opportunities were put into touch down the right by the home side, but Carlisle's defense stood firm, and eventually Penrith committed a penalty infringement of their own allowing Carlisle the opportunity to clear their lines.
Carlisle looked dangerous on the break, and eventually a storming run by Dan Holmes down the left, allowed Carlisle to establish a ruck within a few metres of the Penrith try line. Going through the phases sucked the home defence into defending fairly tight, and scrum half Vince Lung, spotting a gap in the defence, slipped between 3 defenders to go over under the posts for a try, converted by Telford, and a deserved 10-3 lead at half time.

There was not much between the two sides for the first 10mins of the second half, until Carlisle committed a penalty, allowing Penrith the chance for a 5m line out down the right. Although Carlisle defended the maul, the home side worked the ball across the backs and scored in the left corner, converted by Fearon to level the scores at 10-10.
Shortly after Penrith took the lead from a 35m penalty for a Carlisle player not rolling away.

There was still not a lot between the two teams, but another penalty committed by Carlisle on the hour mark, gave Fearon the opportunity to put the ball in the corner, for a 5m line out, which they duly converted from a catch and drive.

Six minutes later as Carlisle were pressing forward, a ball that seemed to bounce about without anyone taking control of it, was scooped up by the Penrith winger. Blindsided by a clutch of Penrith players in front of him, no-one from Carlisle closed him down as he skipped through the gaps, and with a head of steam, was unstoppable as he flew down the wing and over in the right corner to score Penrith's third.

Carlisle did their best to try to get back into the game, but were simply unable to break through beyond Penrith's 22m, and the game ended as another Carlisle attack just fizzled out in sight of the Penrith tryline.

Carlisle are learning that there are small margins between victory and defeat, and there was little to pick between the two teams for long periods of this game. Penrith took their chances well, and had the better of the set piece, giving them a foundation on which to build. Penalty infringements also cost Carlisle dear as it simply handed Fearon an opportunity to turn Carlisle back down the park.
There could be no faulting effort, but set piece issues and a lack of clinical accuracy at crucial times are costing Carlisle dear in this league.