By John Walsh

Last updated at 17:32, Friday, 10 June 2011

Mike Raine has become the first Penrith captain to win the players’ player of the year award.

From left, Craig Rumney, Phil Gardham, Mike Raine and Paul Newton

Penrith's three senior teams got together for their presentation evening last Friday.

And Raine said it was now important for the first-team to push on after a mixed season.

He said: “Most good performances were followed by pretty poor ones and the only run of consistent form was when we lost four on the trot.”

They finished mid-table but second place should have been within their reach.

Penrith were docked five points for a registration discrepancy and if three of the ‘silly games’ which were lost had been won second place was easily achievable.

“That would have been a better reflection of the quality of the side but the whole season had been eclipsed by the final game.

“We beat Kendal in the final of the County Cup with one of the best performances ever by a Penrith side,” he said.

The player of the year award went to Paul Newton, who put in consistent quality performances throughout the season.

The scrum-half has set himself very high standards and his work ethic in defence is a master class for the younger players.

Craig Rumney picked up the most improved player award, which reflects the hard work and effort he has put in and also the efforts of forwards coach Ian Thompson.

Phil Gardham was young player of the year and from a budding back row player now looks if he is going to make it in senior rugby as a lock.

The award for top try scorer was shared between Gavin Cartmel and Mike Hawley. Nineteen-year-old Cartmel has made a massive contribution to the club in his first two full seasons, not missing a game. He has been top try scorer in both and his strike rate of 37 tries in a total of 61 games is phenomenal.

Keith Robinson, who takes over coaching the first-team next season, led the Development side to promotion. Second place in The University of Salford Division One will see them move up into the Premier League with some seriously good sides and a challenging season in 2011/12.

He said the season was one of two halves, 12 out of 12 wins before Christmas and then a struggle with unavailability and injury in the second half. He had used 26 backs in total and in one game fielded four specialist scrum halves.

Player of the year was Jake Edgar; players’ player was Bill Barton and the top try scorer was shared by Nick Benson and Craig Atkinson on 15 apiece.

Barton and Gavin Cowe played in every game and Jon Fell scored 10 tries in only four matches.

David Potts presented the third team’s season. After promotion last year they finished a creditable fifth and just managed their target of finishing above Upper Eden IIs.

Top try scorer for the first time in years was not veteran Terry Balmer but veteran John Sealby with nine. Sealby was also players' player, while the very promising Joe Hulbert cleaned up the player of the year, young player of the year and most improved young player of the year. That left Chris Chapman to pick up most improved player.

Jake Edgar picked up the Luke Johnson Trophy and the club team of the year went to the seconds.

This was the last official engagement with the players for Mike Arragon in his two-year stint as club president. He was thanked for his contribution, his love of the club and his massive enthusiasm for the game and the players.

First published at 14:11, Friday, 10 June 2011
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk