Carnegie Challenge Cup Fourth Round – 8 May 2011

Skolars’ Challenge Cup run ended at the hands of seven times winners Widnes Vikings. The two sides had meat earlier in the season and the final scoreline was identical to the Northern Rail Cup encounter.

Skolars forced an error from the kick-off, but James Anthony’s pass to the wing was too high for Ade Adebisi and it wasn’t long before Widnes had advanced upfield forcing a goal line drop out. The next set of six saw Macgraff Leuluai finish with a try on the left flank and five minutes later he scored again, although this time he had to do a little more to evade the defence.

The hard working Dave Allen made a break before off-loading on the half way line for Thomas Coyle to continue the run to the line. At that stage the Vikings were scoring at just under a point a minute, but then Skolars started to get into the game more. But a good spell in attack was ended with a loose ball from Dylan Skee. Paddy Flynn then took the ball from acting dummy half racing 60 metres to the line. Skolars then kicked off on the full and Widnes took full advantage as the home side started to tire. Tangi Ropati went in on the right, with Flynn adding a second try just before half-time, going through a gap opened up by Dave Houghton’s pass.

Skolars opened up the scoring after the break, when Jaroslaw Obuchowski finished off a move started by a Danny Burke break down the right. Three tries in five minutes was the Vikings’ immediate response. Richard Varkulis crashed over for a try, quickly followed by Grant Gore, with Houghton again making the decisive pass. Flynn then completed his hat-trick, taking an inside ball from Dean Gaskell to score under the posts. The half century was completed when Steve Tyrer added the conversion, one of the easier attempts in windy conditions.

Skolars then pulled two tries back. Skee’s well flighted kick into the centre found James Anthony perfectly for the young full-back to score. Then after an Ade Adebisi run, Gareth Honor’s pass gave Dave Arnot space to touchdown on the left flank. Dylan Skee kicked his third conversion, taking that role for the first time this season due to injuries to Neil Thorman and Jy-Mel and Jack Latus’ unavailability.

That was as good as it got for the home side. Leuluai’s pass opened up a big gap for Steve Tyrer to stride through. Then Daniel Heckenberg slipped the ball to Flynn running cross-field to score his fourth try of the day. There was just time for one more score with Dave Allen scoring his second try of the day.

Full-back James Anthony won the man of the match award sponsored by The Mall, Wood Green, for a determined display in defence against a strong Vikings side, as well as for his second half try.

LONDON SKOLARS

3 James Anthony
25 Aaron Small
17 Dave Arnot
31 John Paxton
5 Ade Adebisi
21 Danny Burke
7 Dylan Skee
22 Saqib Murtza
9 Gareth Honor
10 Jason Hart
33 Jaroslaw Obuchowski
15 Olly Purslow
25 Austen Aggrey

Subs (all used)
24 Dave McMeeken
20 Guy Aldam
32 Sam Gee
34 Michael Sykes

Tries: Obuchowski (42), Anthony (57), Arnot (62)
Goals: Skee 3/3

WIDNES VIKINGS
5 Paddy Flynn
2 Dean Gaskell
23 Tangi Ropati
4 Steve Tyrer
19 Matt Gardner
7 Chaz I’Anson
14 Thomas Coyle
42 Danny Sculththorpe
25 Chris Lunt
10 Daniel Heckenberg
20 Shane Grady
16 Macgraff Leuluai
11 David Allen

Subs
3 Richard Varkulis
17 Ben Kavanagh (not used)
22 Dave Houghton
29 Grant Gore

Tries: Leuluai (5,10), Allen (18,80), Flynn (34,39,51,75), Ropati (37), Gore (48), Tyrer (66)
Goals: Tyrer 7/12

Penalty count: 5-6

Half-time: 0-32
Referee:  Clint Sharrad
Attendance: 415

SCORING SEQUENCE:  0-6, 0-10, 0-16, 0-22, 0-26, 6-32, 6-38, 6-44, 6-50, 12-50, 18-50, 18-54, 18-58, 18-62