Skolars pushed in-form Workington for most of the game, but couldn’t break the Cumbrians’ defence in the second half as the visitors scored four unanswered tries.
A late illness to former London Bronco Peter Lupton saw him drop to the bench, but the promotion of Karl Olstrum to the starting line up saw the youngster put in a strong performance. It also meant Graeme Mattinson playing for the full eighty minutes, his work rate throughout the game meant that Skolars spent long periods in their own half.
Skolars had an early chance to take the lead, but Brad Hopkins was pushed into touch in goal. Pushing their way down to the other end of the field quick passing to the right from Mattinson and Marc Bainbridge opened up a gap for Kris Coward to score.
Town continued to attack with Jason Mossop being held up over the line. Mattinson then cut left from dummy half to slip past the defence for his side’s second try. The Londoners responded with a move down their left flank finished off by James Anthony. Town’s third try came on the back on a penalty, with good field position Jarrad Stack went to the line and then twisted in the tackle to ground the ball over the tryline. The next try came in the next set of six in almost identical fashion, another penalty but this time it was Olstrum who twisted out of the clutches of the defence.
Skolars pulled a try back straightaway. Mark Calderwood picked up the ball from the restart deep in goal, but decided to pass the ball when just over the line and Town lost possession. From the resultant scrum, Skolars swung the ball out wide to the right for Mike Worrincy to score a try for the fourth consecutive game, Dylan Skee converting his second goal of the game.
Mattinson again pushed Skolars on the backfoot before the break, following up his own grubber kick to force James Anthony to concede a goal line drop out. Jason Mossop again crossed the tryline, but there had been an obstruction earlier in the move and the try was disallowed.
Skolars needed to get a good start to the second half, but again conceded a penalty. Bainbridge kicked on the sixth tackle with Elliott Miller just unable to keep control of the ball. Dylan Skee’s 40-20 then pushed Skolars deep into Town’s half, but Calderwood intercepted the ball as it came across Skolars’ left side and after his break, Bainbridge and Dave Peterson were able to stretch the defence to put over Olstrum for his second try.
Sam Bolger, on loan from London Broncos, was held up over the line and strong runs by Oliver Bloom and Anthony showed that Skolars could put Town under pressure, but against a team with best defensive record in the league, they couldn’t make that pressure count.
At the other end Mossop was again denied a try, this time trying to stretch too far in his attempt to reach the line. But Workington’s pressure finally told with three tries in the last eight minutes. Calderwood came inside and was quick to move onto Lupton’s short kick from the left. Both were playing Super League last season and that experience told as former England international Calderwood scored again four minutes later, cutting in from the wing
Mattinson was again in the thick of the action for the final try, breaking down the left for Miller to round off the day, with Bainbridge kicking his sixth conversion.
Smokie Junor won the Man of the Match award sponsored by the The Mall, Wood Green Shopping City, whilst James Anthony picked up the Players’ Player award sponsored by Laurent Perrier.
LONDON SKOLARS
1 James Anthony
2 John Paxton
3 Alex Bate
4 Dave Arnot
5 Smokie Junor
6 Neil Thorman
7 Dylan Skee
8 Lamont Bryan
9 Martyn Smith
10 David Williams
11 Brad Hopkins
12 Mike Worrincy
17 Joe Mbu
Subs (all used)
14 Oliver Bloom
15 Olly Purslow
16 Sam Bolger
13 Matt Thomas
Tries: Anthony (23). Worrincy (33),
Goals: Skee 2/2
WORKINGTON TOWN
1 Brett Carter
2 Elliott Miller
3 Jason Mossop
4 Daniel Rooney
5 Mark Calderwood
13 Dave Peterson
7 Marc Bainbridge
8 Ryan Macdonald
9 Graeme Mattinson
10 Kris Coward
11 Brett Phillips
12 Jarrad Stack
14 Karl Olstrum
Subs (all used)
6 Peter Lupton
15 Marc Shackley
16 Mike Whitehead
17 Jamie Thackray
Tries: Coward (9), Mattinson (20), Stack (27), Olstrum (29,45), Calderwood (72,76), Miller (79)
Goals: Bainbridge 6/8
Penalty count: 7-9
Half-time: 12-20
Referee: Greg Dolan
Attendance: 623
SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-12, 6-12, 6-16, 6-20, 12-22, 12-26, 12-32, 12-38, 12-44
