Penrith Rugby Club's struggles on the road continued when they came away from Broughton Park without even a bonus point.

They lost 25-17 and results elsewhere means they are only three points above the final relegation place.

It was all the more galling because, after a poor start, they had got themselves back into the game and, going into the final quarter, were even leading.

With a strong breeze behind them, the hosts were soon on the front foot as Penrith made life difficult for themselves, knocking the ball on at the kick-off.

Within two minutes, Broughton Park had taken full advantage and scored in the corner and they continued to pile on the pressure.

A series of line-outs and scrums deep in the Cumbrians’ 22 saw Penrith concede a string of penalties as they could not lift the siege.

Eventually, from a five-metre scrum, the home No.8 broke and the Penrith backs did well to stop him on the line. But when the ball was swung wide, the cover was short and the winger went in at the corner for a second unconverted try.

There were 20 minutes on the clock before the visitors got a put into the scrum when Mike Hawley and Brad Taylor briefly combined to show a bit of attacking flair.

It did not last long, though, because Penrith went further behind when Broughton Park ran back a clearance kick. They moved it across the field right to left and the winger again went in, in the left-hand corner for a 15-0 lead.

Penrith, were though, starting to play a bit of rugby and getting some possession and field position as the home side felt the pressure and conceded penalties.

They then had a good series of forward drives in the home 22 and were starting to look dangerous. A penalty was kicked to the corner when Ryan Lee found Dan Richardson jumping in the middle of the line and they set-up the driving maul.

The maul was inching forward and didn’t get to the line but got close enough for George Graham to take the ball and force his way over. A lull in the breeze allowed Nathan Wooff to put over his well-judged conversion and Penrith were back in the game.

At 15-7 down, after being second best for long periods in the first half, it wasn’t a bad return at the break.

Penrith started the second half on the front foot and a penalty attempt from 30 metres by Wooff came back off the post.

The visitors were not to be denied and good work down the blindside, by Graham, gave them an opening. Richardson fought his way through a couple of tackles before Dan Greenwood linked with Ian McDowell who was faced with the last defender.

He drew him nicely and Hawley was on his shoulder on the outside and was clean away down the right. He got to the corner but had the sense to avoid the defender and ground the ball under the posts for an easy conversion.

Penrith were now only one point adrift and got another penalty chance just outside the 22 after an excellent series of forward drives drew the penalty.

This time, Wooff made no mistake and Penrith had scored 17 unanswered points to lead.

The match went into the final quarter when Broughton Park had much the better of the remainder of the game.

They scored a converted try to lead by five points and were then successful with a penalty attempt to pull the lead out and deny Penrith a losing bonus point.

Penrith huffed and puffed as the clock ran down but, to be fair, the home side looked the more likely to add to their tally as the game ended.