Penrith won 30-17 at Percy Park to clinch runners-up spot in North One East and a play-off game at Birkenhead Park on Saturday.

They had travelled to the North East, knowing if they avoided defeat at Percy Park they would be guaranteed a promotion play-off place. A win would take all the mathematics out of the equation.

They started nervously as a few first-up tackles were missed in the early stages and they put themselves under a bit of pressure before getting up to speed.

Percy Park had an enormous pack and the Penrith forwards looked dwarfed in the line-outs in particular.

Centre Phil Armstrong was making inroads and it was one of these runs that set up the Cumbrians’ first score.

Armstrong made the initial break and, after the forwards carried the ball to the 22, George Graham found the gap down the left of the breakdown, got past the first line of defence then shrugged off two tackles to claim the try. Fearon added the conversion.

The home side came straight back and, after a period of sustained pressure, a well-worked move saw them go under the posts. The conversion levelled the score.

Penrith soon had their noses back in front. A strong Matt Allinson run up the centre, continued by Phil Gardham, put them in a good position and when Percy Park were penalised at the breakdown, Fearon had a simple penalty chance to restore the lead.

Jamie McNaughton almost created Penrith’s second try for Jon Fell but the move broke down when a pass went astray.

Penrith did manage another score before half time. Dan Richardson broke from the base of a scrum ten metres out before Graham moved the ball and Harlan Corrie was stopped under the posts with a high tackle which was penalised.

Fearon’s successful kick meant Penrith turned round 13-7 to the good but the home side started the second period well and, after some sustained pressure, forced a deserved try. They had the conversion to take the lead but it came back off the post.

This score seemed to galvanise the Penrith effort as coach David Preston introduced Mike Stephens and Ryan Banks to the fray off the bench,

Corrie took the home restart high in the air and Percy Park infringed.

Allinson kicked the penalty to the corner where the Penrith forwards secured the line-out ball, Richardson drove for the line and was held up just short.

Banks, fresh on the pitch, picked and went for the line and was awarded the try. Fearon was again successful with the kick as he was just a minute or two later when another penalty was awarded after good ground had been made by Allinson and Will Morgan.

Penrith were now two scores ahead and looked reasonably secure but the home side were still causing problems and might have scored again themselves.

Penrith, however, put the game to bed with just over ten minutes to go. Their forwards were battering away up the right flank on half way playing it tight in a bid to kill off the game.

The ball was then suddenly moved quickly wide to the left where Ed Swale put McNaughton away and for the first time he was in plenty of space.

He stepped back inside his winger with ease, accelerated away before stepping inside the cover and drew the last man and released Graham with a straight run in under the posts. Fearon’s boot was again accurate and with a 30-12 advantage they could just about relax.

In front of a big home crowd, Percy Park were not going to give in and scored in the corner off the last move of the game. The touchline conversion was short and the final whistle went, both sides had scored three tries but the score line showed the value of an accurate placekicker.

Fearon had a 100 per cent record with his six attempts.