Penrith Rugby Club won their fifth game in a row as they continued their charge for promotion against table-toppers Driffield.

They are now in third place with two games in hand on new leaders Morpeth and now second-placed Driffield – and only four points off top spot.

Driffield were clearly a big side and the early indications were they were very well-drilled and organised.

On five minutes, they worked a slick move down the right and their winger finished it off, running in under the posts. The Winters Park men were seven points down before they had got started.

But the home side clawed their way back into the game, getting on the scoreboard after they shunted the much bigger visiting pack off their own scrum ball in the 22.

Mike Raine broke from No.8, George Graham carried on the run almost to the line and the forwards piled in, the ball coming right to the backs and Ryan Johnson muscled his way over. The conversion drifted wide.

Penrith looked to be in for a second try as Lee Chapman made a telling break but, what looked like a scoring pass, went astray.

But the referee pulled play back for an offside infringement and Matt Allinson knocked over the penalty for a one-point home lead.

Penrith were close to scoring again in a sweeping move, a Jay Rossi break through midfield was carried on by Liam Tunstall and McNaughton then had the try-line in his sights but his pass was intercepted by the last defender.

From this attacking position, the home side conceded a penalty at the scrum, then poorly returned the kick upfield, allowing the visiting full-back a clear run.

He was tap tackled but was able to regain his feet and carry on to set up a second try under the posts.

Penrith bounced straight back.

The line-out ball taken by Richardson on the 22 led to the second try, Rossi making the break in midfield to take play deep into the 22 and Graham set up Craig Price on the charge who returned the ball to Graham who went in under the posts.

The Cumbrians were a point to the good as half-time approached.

They then kicked a penalty to the 22 for a line-out for the final play of the half.

Price again found Richardson and the forwards drew in the Driffield cover as they put the drive on.

The ball then came to Ross Jackson at outside half who flipped it back inside to McNaughton and he split the defence wide open and made the line without a finger being laid on him. Allinson’s conversion made it 22-14 at the break.

Driffield started the second period in determined mood and pinned the home side back in their own 22 and the visitors were rewarded with a penalty which they kicked to bring themselves within a score.

The Yorkshire outfit continued to pile on the pressure but the home defence was superb.

They finally ended the siege when Raine and Graham combined off the scrum on their 22 to set McNaughton away and they could then spend some time in the opposition half.

It was Penrith’s turn to turn the screw and the forwards went through the phases deep in the visitors’ 22.

Johnson went close before the ball was whipped down the backline, full-back Swale was up in the line but Rossi saw the space wide on the outside, missed him and gave Fell on the left a clear run to the line.

Allinson converted well from wide out.

But there was still 20 minutes to go and Driffield were in no mood to throw in the towel, scoring another right in the corner.

An excellent conversion off the touchline meant there was only five points in it.

Penrith then had to withstand an all-out assault by the visitors with only 14 men after a yellow card.

There were nine extra minutes on the clock when eventually the visitors were penalised deep into the Penrith 22 for hanging on to the ball.

Graham tapped the ball and Allinson banged it into touch.