Heavy overnight rain continued throughout the day and produced a mudbath of a Perth Road pitch. The game was abandoned after 68 minutes. Both coaches were using the pre-season warm-up as a trial game (Skolars had several players from Southgate and Barnet College), but it would have been hard for anyone to stand out, the weather making handling conditions very difficult, as well the mud making it difficult to identify players.
Alex Anthony scored the first try and the way he broke through the line suggests he will be challenging older brother James for the full-back spot this season. Another new signing David Stephenson set up the second try with Billy Driver touching down, followed soon afterwards by Jack Dillon.
Skolars had four dual registered players from the arrangement with Broncos, all of whom scored tries. Mike Bishay slipped through centrefield to score Skolars fourth try at the end of the first quarter.
After Evan Simons scored for Skolars early on, the second quarter was a more even contest. It took another Anthony break, this time from halfway to break the defence with Mason Caton-Brown finishing off the move. Fellow loanee Matt Cook scored soon after the restart, followed soon afterwards by Erjon Dolapi.
The Exiles, coached by former Skolar Keir Bell, dug deep and forced a goal line drop out and were held up over the try line, but as the conditions deteriorated the scrum count mounted as both sides struggled to keep hold of the ball.
The final move of the game saw S
ahid Kpaka find possibly the driest stretch of turf on the pitch as he raced down the right wing to score, with Joe Ridley kicking his fourth goal of the day, before the referee called a halt to the proceedings.
A big thank you to all the supporters who came to the game and watched in near zero temperatures.
LONDON SKOLARS
1 Alex Anthony
2 Sebastian Kolasi
3 Mason Caton-Brown
4 Martin Olima
5 Jimmy Morgan
6 Joe Ridley
7 Mike Bishay
8 Rob Thomas
9 Billy Driver
10 Erjon Dolapi
11 Matt Cook
12 David Stephenson
13 Jack Dillon
Subs (all used)
14 Dion Chapman
15 Danny Burke
16 Evan Simons
17 Louis Robinson
18 Anthony Kaami
19 Sahid Kpaka
20 Judd Greenhalgh
21 Jaroslaw Obuchowski
22 Ben Carey
23 Jack Clover
24 Michael Greenhalgh
Tries: Anthony (6), Driver (11), Dillon (140, Bishay (18), Simons (26), Caton-Brown (35), Cook (45), Dolapi (50), Kpaka (68)
Goals: Ridley 4
SCOTTISH EXILES
1 Paul Stewart
2 Angelo Thomas
3 Dan McLeod
4 Richard Knight
5 Eddie Smith
6 Aiden Oakley
7 Luke Watling
8 Luke Tilly
9 Ash Horrobin
10 Alex Wright
11 Shane Kyriacou
12 Myles Turner
13 Nathaniel Creighton
Subs (all used)
14 Luis Smith
15 Ted Laing
16 Tee-Jay Farrell
17 Mike Benson
18 Chris McNamara
19 Doug Creighton
20 Michael Bill
21 Ewan Drummond
22 Olly Bloom
Referee: Tom Mather
SCORING SEQUENCE: 4-0, 8-0, 14-0, 18-0, 22-0, 28-0, 32-0, 38-0, 44-0
