After dominating the first hour of the game, Skolars withstood a determined Welsh comeback to record a victory in Neath.
Joe Mbu made just two changes to the previous week’s 17. Ben Bolger returned to Broncos, with Austen Aggrey coming onto the bench, whilst Chris McNamara replaced John Paxton in the centres.
Lewis Fox scored early on for the Scorpions when they established an overlap down the right hand side, but Louis Robinson crashed over for his first try for Skolars to level the scores. Skolars then forced an error and the resultant possession saw Lamont Bryan race through the defence to touchdown. Centre Joe Price weaved through the defence on the left to record his first try after returning to the club after several seasons with Ealing Trailfinders.
Skolars’ discipline was good for most of the game, conceding just three penalties. Two of those came in quick succession and it took an intercept from Rob Thomas to keep the Scorpions out. Skolars then attacked and a cut-out pass from Andy McLean found Ade Adebisi on the wing to put them 22-6 up at half-time.
The continued their dominance after the break, a Rob Thomas break was continued by James Anthony and Dylan Skee, before Thomas rejoined the move to score. He almost scored again soon afterwards, Chris McNamara also went close and Ade Adebisi was held up over the line.
When Scorpions kicked out the full on the sixth tackle, Skolars attacked again. Bryan bust through the defence with Skee finishing off and adding a fifth goal.
Last season’s games against the Scorpions were close run affairs and it was no surprise that the Scorpions would fight back. Nathan Mossop scored two tries, between which Andy McLean intercepted on 40 metres to score Skolars’ seventh try. A fast move down the left flank saw Alex Pope score soon after for the home side and the marign was down to 14 points with 13 minutes remaining.
Skolars should have made the game safe when Lameck Juma had space on the wing, but with a large in goal area for rugby union at The Gnoll, he overshot the dead ball line and was denied a try.
David James scored for Scorpions at the other end, but with two minutes remaining they weren’t going to get any closer, although that try and Jamie Rooney’s fifth conversion ensured they picked up a bonus point and slipped ahead of Skolars in the Pool A table.
SOUTH WALES
18 Rodney Peake
8 David James
17 Lewis Fox
23 Alan Pope
11 Ashley Bateman
2 Jamie Rooney
14 Scott Leatherbarrow
16 Joe Burke
19 Nathan Mossop
25 Alstair McDonald
22 Chris Vitalini
20 Jamie Acton
4 Phil Carleton
Subs (all used)
1 Steve Parry
5 Neil Dallimore
24 Callum Wilkinson
7 Lewis Reece
Tries: Fox (9), Mossop (60,64), Pope (67), James (78)
Goals: Rooney 5/5
LONDON SKOLARS
1 James Anthony
2 Ade Adebisi
3 Chris McNamara
4 Joe Price
5 Lameck Juma
6 Andy McLean
7 Dylan Skee
8 Louis Robinson
9 Neil Thorman
10 David Williams
11 Alex Bate
12 Matt Thomas
13 Lamont Bryan
Subs (all used)
14 Rob Thomas
15 Austen Aggrey
16 Martyn Smith
17 Olly Purslow
Tries: Robinson (12), Bryan (16), Price (24), Adebisi (35), R Thomas (44), Skee (55), McLean (61)
Goals: Skee 5/7
Penalty count: 3-10
Half-time: 6-22
Referee: George Stokes
SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 6-6, 6-12, 6-18, 6-22, 6-28, 6-34, 12-34, 12-38, 18-38, 24-38, 30-38
