With Blackburn's game taking its toll and a number of players unavailable, ill or carrying knocks, this was an ideal opportunity to test the depth of the squad and give players a chance to stake a claim for 1st XV inclusion.
Penrith also took the opportunity to rotate their squad, and straight from the start they were quicker to react to an unfortunate slip by a Carlisle defender, that left a huge gap in the defence for them to go through for their first try. It only took a few more minutes when they found space down the outside channel to bag their second unconverted try.

Carlisle were struggling to contain wave after wave of Penrith attack and a penalty infringement gave Penrith another attacking opportunity deep in the Carlisle 22. From the resulting catch and drive, the Penrith forwards mauled the ball over the line, securing their 3rd try with barely 10 minutes gone.

From this point onwards it could have gone very wrong for Carlisle, but they rallied and had the best of posession for the next 10minutes, with scrum half James Rocke pulled up short of the line after a searing run through the Penrith defence.
It was however Penrith who would increase their lead after 19minutes, as they stole a Carlisle line-out, and moved the ball wide for the Penrith winger to go over on the right for their 4th try.

The game came to a halt just after the midway mark in the half, as winger Jack Carruthers sustained what was initially thought to be a serious leg injury, and the game had to be moved to the neighbouring pitch.

With Carlisle trying hard to find inroads into the Penrith 22, a penalty opportunity for Carlisle was just pushed wide by fly half Jason Israel. From the 22 drop out Penrith managed to push Carlisle back towards their try line. As Carlisle managed to secure ball, an attempted break out from the dead ball area was foiled as the Carlisle player was smothered by a Penrith forward who managed to ground the ball for Penrith's fifth try, closing the half at 29-0.

If it was mainly Penrith in the first half, then Carlisle had the lion's share of possession and territory in the second, as the home side seemed to start clicking together. Then matters started to get a little feisty as a number of infringements resulted in Penrith losing a man to the bin, and then 5minutes later a second player for killing the ball whilst Carlisle were deep in the Penrith 22.

Credit to Penrith that they managed the loss of players well enough to thwart whatever Carlisle could throw at them. The Carlisle injury toll started to mount as a number of players limped or were carried off. However the replacements fitted in well, and it was replacement winger Mark Armiger who snaffled an interception on half way to speed under the posts for a converted Carlisle try, just over an hour into the game.

This would prove to be Carlisle's only score of the game, and indeed the only score of the second half, as Carlisle's defence held firm in the second half to prevent any further Penrith incursions.
There was no doubt that Penrith were the better side, but the score flattered them somewhat, and Carlisle realised in the second half when the game had gone, that there were opportunities to get closer to the visitors. They just couldn't quite convert them, and Penrith defended well enough to prevent any further scores for Carlisle.

Carlisle were always going to struggle in this game after leaking three tries inside 10minutes, and perhaps unfamiliarity with positions, defence patterns etc contributed to this. Something to resolve on the training field.
A disappointing result for Carlisle on what turned into a depressing, rainy, grey afternoon, but those who stepped up to the plate today were no B-listers. They ran and fought and tackled all afternoon for the club, and the shirt they wore. This is a long, hard season and squad rotation must play its part in getting the club to the end of it, in both the league campaigns that are being fought by the senior mens squad. Though our Cumbria cup campaign is disappointingly over, the main prizes remain at the end of the leagues season, and player management and welfare is key to ensuring players are fit enough to see it out successfully.
Our grateful thanks to Handelsbanken who sponsored today's game.

Next Saturday is a case in point where player fitness and availability is key, as top quality opposition travel to Warwick Road in the shape of Stockport against the Firsts, and League leaders Silloth against the Crusaders. Additionally the Colts will be playing Darlington Mowden Park in the second round of the National Cup to complete a feast of rugby on show at Carlisle RFC.