Sunday 13th March 2011
After last week’s tryfest, Skolars were on the receiving end of a heavy defeat in their opening league game. When James Anthony picked up an injury in training, coach Joe Mbu had to re-organise just before kick-off with Aaron Small coming into the team minutes before kick-off.
Both sides failed to control the ball initially, but two quickfire tries put the home side ahead, the first for Scott Law, the second saw Luke Helliwell throw a dummy to open a gap near the line.
Olly Purslow made a good break, but couldn’t quite get a pass out in space. Cougars attacked again and started to dominate. Will Cartledge ran though a big hole in the defensive line and when Neil Thorman made an uncharacteristic error from a kick through, Danny Lawton took full advantage. Lawton added a second soon afterwards and when Gavin Duffy scored in the corner, Keighley were 34 points up before the half hour mark. By that point Skolars were missing Jamie Boston who took a knock to the neck which led to a trip to A&E.
A Dylan Skee break was continued by Purslow but Ade Adebisi didn’t have enough space to go for the line and was bundled into touch. Skolars finally got onto the scoreboard when Jy-Mel Coleman made interception from 35 metres out, with Neil Thorman converting.
Danny Lawton completed his hat-trick just before half time and his 9 conversions left him with a 32 point haul.
Skolars looked to have gained some scant consolation after moving the ball to the wing after the final hooter had sounded, but Ade Adebisi was adjudged offside and the try was denied.
KEIGHLEY
2 Craig Moss
5 Gavin Duffy
22 Ben Sagar
4 Danny Lawton
26 James Hutchinson
29 Jason Demetriou
6 Luke Helliwell
8 Andy Shickell
9 James Feather
10 Scott Law
11 Will Cartledge
12 Olly Pursglove
19 James Haythornwaite
Subs (all used)
14 Jermaine Wray
20 Rick Barr
16 Brendon Rawlins
23 Chris Baines
Tries: Law (3), Helliwell (8), Cartledge (17,69), Lawton (20,24,40), Duffy (29), Baines (43), Sagar (49), Wray (54), Haythornwaite (71)
Goals: Lawton 9/12
LONDON SKOLARS
18 Aaron Small
2 Smokie Junor
6 Jy-Mel Coleman
4 Luke May
5 Ade Adebisi
7 Dylan Skee
1 Neil Thorman
8 Tony Williams
9 Gareth Honor
34 Dave McMeeken
33 Jamie Boston
15 Olly Purslow
13 Stephen Ball
Subs (all used)
14 Liam Prescott
10 Jason Hart
30 Austen Aggrey
16 James Simon
Tries: Coleman (37)
Goals: Thorman 0/1
Penalty count: 5/5
Half-time: 38-6
Referee: Warren Turley
Attendance: 640
SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 18-0, 24-0, 30-0, 34-0, 34-6, 38-6, 44-6, 48-6, 54-6, 60-6, 66-6
