For a second week in succession, Penrith had a "must-win" game to stay in touch at the top of the North One East table.

And for a second successive week they came up just short, although again it was not down to lack of effort or motivation.

The previous week's loss had been against a better Pocklington side but Saturday’s match was eminently winnable.

Unfortunately, poor decision-making and untimely mistakes and penalties saw them just fail to claim the win at second in the table West Hartlepool, going down 17-15.

A break from number eight by Mike Raine and a couple of incursions by George Graham saw a decent spell of early attacking rugby from the Cumbrians and they won a penalty deep in the home 22.

The kick was put into touch for an attacking line-out which Penrith won.

They looked to be going for the drive to the line when they lost possession and a home breakout with a hack ahead, assisted by a strong following breeze, saw the home side with a similar attacking line-out on the Penrith line.

West won the ball but Penrith were able to halt the drive for the line but, when the ball was moved into midfield, the defence were penalised in front of their posts and the home side had an early three-point lead.

The restart was knocked on into Ryan Johnson's hands and he charged ahead before the ball was moved to the right where James Boustead released Jon Fell.

He cut into the 22 and was brought down just short of the line but the visitors were unable to force the advantage home before a knock on released the pressure.

Penrith played some nice rugby but were not able to make it show on the scoreboard.

The home side were a little more circumspect but more effective and added a try and conversion to take their lead out to 10-0.

Penrith heads did not drop and they kicked a penalty into the home 22 after Ed Swale was taken out in the air under a high ball.

The forwards won the line-out and got over the line but were held up.

They won the ensuing scrum and drove again for the line, the ball was then moved wide and Fell just failed to make the line before play was brought back for a penalty against the home defence.

They again went for the kick to the corner and the line-out and drive for the line, and this time, Graham was just short as he stretched for the line after the drive was held up.

Another penalty was awarded and they used the same tactics.

This time, hooker Craig Price hit jumper Dan Richardson and the driven maul was set up and did get over the line and it was Price at the back of the maul who claimed the try. Matt Allinson's conversion into the wind put Penrith within three points.

Penrith took the lead before half-time largely thanks to Jamie McNaughton who fielded a well struck punt up-field.

He ran the ball back and was involved again as two phases of play took the ball from half way up to the 22 and was then on hand to finish off the move wide on the left after Graham went down the blindside.

That gave Penrith a 12-10 lead at the break and, with the freshening wind at their backs, cause to be optimistic.

They were to start the second half abysmally. Allinson sent the kick-off long and the home winger ran the ball back before breaking the chasing defensive line with hardly a hand being laid on him.

Although he was hauled down on half way, a phase of play and two nice offloads later West had scored under the posts and kicked the conversion.

Penrith did come straight back and Callum Poulson went close to scoring breaking through the defensive line on the home 22 but was hauled down just short.

West's defenders were penalised at the breakdown and Allinson put the penalty over in front of the posts to pull back the deficit to two points.

Both sides then had chances to add to their scores but, as the half wore on, Penrith saw less of the ball as the home side ground-out the result.

They did raise their game in the final five minutes and Allinson had a long distance penalty shot swirl wide on the wind.

A second penalty was put to the corner but the game finished on the home line as West's dogged defence just held out.

In North One West, St. Benedict’s played with a lot of spirit against league leaders Kirkby Lonsdale before going under at home 35-7.

It was a gritty effort, without a number of regulars, against a side who have now won all 20 games in the league, scoring 878 points in the process.

The problem now for Saints is they are only five points clear of the relegation zone but they do have a game in hand.

The next two games could be pivotal to their survival hopes.

On Saturday, they host Rochdale in a catch-up-game. They are five points ahead of their visitors, who are just out of the relegation zone on points differential.

That’s followed by a trip to the bottom side Eccles, certain to be relegated, who have a record of one win and 19 defeats.