Skolars fielded a young side on Easter Monday and after conceding four early tries competed well at Spotland. With Skolars through to the next round and Rochdale out of the competition whatever the result, the home side also rang the changes from Good Friday.
Hornets got off to a flier with three tries in the first quarter. Gareth Langley scored after taking advantage of a couple of errors. When Skolars were penalised for crossing, Dave Llewellyn punished the visitors and was followed soon afterwards by Martin Waring.
When Barry Clark scored three minutes later, it looked like a heavy defeat could be on the cards. But Skolars fought back with two tries in quick succession. An Evan Simons break from halfway was finished by Andy McLean in his first game since returning from Australia. Then Olly Bloom raced past the defence from halfway for Skolars’ second try. Jez Obuchowski went close soon afterwards and although Hornets missed several conversions, they took a relieving penalty just before half-time to go in 20-10 ahead.
The second half saw Rochdale score two early tries to seal the game. Llewellyn went over for his second try, before Lewis Sheridan took the ball from his own 20 metre line to go in under the posts. For Skolars, Olly Purslow was held=up, but tow more tries for Hornets followed through Waring and Dave Hull.
James Roche’s break was continued by Obuchowski who put the ball out to the left wing for Sebastian Kolasa to score on his first team debut.
Skolars’ Debuts
270 Alex Anthony
271 Angelo Thomas
272 Judd Greenhalgh
273 Mike Greenhalgh
274 Evan Simons
275 Billy Driver
276 Michael Hill
277 Jack Clover
278 Sebastian Kolasa
HORNETS
2 Gaz Langley
1 Barry Clark
14 Dave Llewellyn
32 Dave Hull
31 Martin Waring
15 Benji Lloyd
7 Lewis Sheridan
10 Jordan Hands
30 Chris Hough
29 Carl Forster
16 Andy Ainscough
11 Chris Baines
13 Mark Goodman
Subs (all used)
4 Joe Bate
28 Gaz Frodsham
9 Evan Brown
5 Liam Whalley
Tries: Langley (5), Llewellyn (17,41), Waring (20,61), Clark (23), Sheridan (47), Hull (67)
Goals: Baines 3/8, Langley 1/1
LONDON SKOLARS
22 Alex Anthony
3 Angelo Thomas
27 Judd Greenhalgh
26 Mike Greenhalgh
5 Ade Adebisi
20 Andy McLean
29 Evan Simons
14 Oliver Bloom
6 Billy Driver
28 Michael Hill
20 Cariern Clement-Pascall
25 Dion Chapman
15 Jaroslaw Obuchowski
Subs (all used)
17 Jack Clover
13 Olly Purslow
19 James Roche
21 Sebastian Kolasa
Tries: McLean (33), Bloom (36), Kolasa (71)
Goals: McLean 2/3
Penalty count: 6-2
Half-time: 20-10
Referee: John Cobb
Attendance: 413
SCORING SEQUENCE: 4-0, 8-0, 14-0, 18-0, 18-4, 18-10, 20-10, 24-10, 30-10, 34-10, 40-10, 40-16
