Betfred League 1 – 15 June 2019
London Skolars 51 – West Wales Raiders 6
With the top two sides in League 1 losing, Skolars moved up to second place and are now just two points behind Whitehaven.
Though West Wales Raiders have yet to win a game this season, they made a great start with a break by Liam Rice-Wilson, with Steve Parry touching down a kick by Ash Bateman, with Phil Cowburn adding the conversion to put the visitors ahead in less than two minutes.
Mike Greenhalgh broke the defence down the right with Neil Thorman’s conversion levelling the scores and Skolars went ahead when Jordan Williams latched onto a Richard Wilkinson pass.
With a stiff cross field breeze, Jy-Mel Coleman had a couple of 40-20 attempts kicking from the right flank to the opposite touchline. Mickael Sabour got to the first attempt, but was bundled into touch. However, Lamont Bryan lost the ball on the first tackle, one of several missed chances in the first half.
They extended the lead when James Barran opened up a gap for Craig Mullen. They had further chances to score but West Wales managed to hold Iliess Macani and Neil Thorman up over the tryline, with Skolars going in 18-6 ahead at the break.
Skolars scored early in the second half when Mullen broke down the right. Mike Bishay was stopped close to the line, but with the defence trying to regroup, Skolars moved the ball to the left and Elliot Jennings touched down for a try on his home debut. The winger set up the next try with a break from his own half, with Willliams finishing off the move.
As the attacks on the Welsh line continued, Jy-Mel Coleman dummied to open a gap to score Skolars’ sixth try. Then Wilkinson kicked through with Liam Scott racing onto the ball in the in-goal area. However, Wilkinson was helped off the field after suffering damaged ligaments and is likely to miss next week’s game.
West Wales had few attempts to attack in Skolars’ half through Steve Parry showed why he’s regularly caused problems for Skolars in the past with his work in trying to move the Raiders downfield. After forcing a goal-line drop-out, Skolars went further ahead when Lameck Juma went over on the left, with Williams recording his hat-trick with strong run soon after as Skolars hit the half-century.
The last attack of the game saw Skolars a couple of metres from the line as the hooter sounded, Neil Thorman kicking a drop-goal to add to his seven conversions.
LONDON SKOLARS
1 James Barran
2 Iliess Macani
3 Craig Mullen
4 Lameck Juma
5 Elliot Jennings
6 Jy-Mel Coleman
14 Richard Wilkinson
10 Dan Hindmarsh
9 Neil Thorman
11 Jordan Williams
12 Mike Greenhalgh
13 Lamont Bryan
Subs (all used)
7 Mike Bishay
19 Judd Greenhalgh
10 Liam Scott
8 Michael Sykes
Tries: M Greenhalgh (9), Williams (13,49.69), Mullen (22), Jennings (44), Coleman (53), Scott (57), Juma (62)
Goals: Thorman 7/9
Drop-goal: Thorman
RAIDERS
1 Phil Cowburn
25 Mickael Sabour
20 Michael Connor
4 Patrick Jennings
5 James Smith
22 Steve Parry
7 Tyler Hunt
14 Dalton Desmond-Walker
9 Liam Rice-Wilson
10 Sam Herron
15 Archie Snook
12 Morgan Evans
6 Ashley Bateman
Subs (all used)
24 Callum Mulkeen
3 Mitchell Shaw
16 Aneurin Walker
17 Chris Vitalini
Tries: Parry (2)
Goals: Cowburn 1/1
Penalty count: 9-7
Half-time: 18-6
Attendance:290
Referee: Brandon Robinson
SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 6-6, 12-6, 18-6; 24-6, 28-6 ,34-6, 40-6, 46-6, 50-6, 51-6
