After forcing their way back into the game after an early deficit, Skolars will be ruing several missed try scoring opportunities in a narrow 30-22 defeat at Oldham.
The game started badly for Skolars, conceding a goal line drop out from the kick-off. That saw them have to defend on their line and Richard Lepori scored for the home side in the second minute.
Skolars then had three good chances to score. James Anthony was just bundled into touch and soon afterwards he took the ball in space from Mike Worrincy but the pass was forward. After Ade Adebisis was pushed into touch on the left, Oldham counterattacked with Phil Joy scoring their second try.
Skolars narrowed the gap with two quick fire try. Alex Hurst jumped for a Dylan Skee kick and slipped the ball onto Andy McLean to score, then James Anthony finished off breaks by Rob Thomas and Martyn Smith.
Oldham scored just before half-time through Jon Ford to go in 18-10 at the beak, but Skolars scored two tries early in the second half to take the lead for the first time. Louis Robinson touched down after a Mike Worrincy break and two minutes later McLean combined with Anthony, who scored his second try of the afternoon with Skee kicking his third conversion.
Skolars weren’t helped when Rob Thomas was carried off with a leg injury and
the Roughyeds regained the lead when David Cookson jumped high in goal for a kick patting the ball back for Mo Agoro to score an easy try. The home side made sure of the win with two minutes remaining when Adam Files scooted over, Lewis Palfrey’s fifth conversion giving a final score of 30-22.
OLDHAM
1 Richard Lepori
2 Mo Agoro
21 David Cookson
25 Jon Ford
5 Dale Bloomfield
6 Lewis Palfrey
16 Kenny Hughes
18 Phil Joy
9 Sam Gee
8 Liam Gilchrist
11 Josh Crowley
12 Danny Langtree
22 Liam Thompson
Subs (all used)
14 Adam Files
24 Nial Bradley
10 Jason Boults
19 Michael Ward
Tries: Lepori (2), Joy (21), Ford (38), Agoro (56), Files (78)
Goals: Palrey 5/5
LONDON SKOLARS
1 James Anthony
4 John Paxton
29 Alex Hurst
3 Joe Price
5 Ade Adebisi
26 Andy McLean
7 Dylan Skee
13 Olly Purslow
30 Evan Simons
27 Erjon Dollapi
20 Cariern Clement-Pascall
12 Mike Worrincy
10 David Williams
Subs (all used)
9 Martyn Smith
8 Rob Thomas
16 Louis Robinson
2 Smokie Junor
Tries: McLean (27), Anthony (31,49), Robinson (47)
Goals: Skee 3/4
Penalty count: 10-6
Half-time: 18-10
Referee: Peter Brooke
Attendance: 515
SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 12-6, 12-4, 12-10, 18-10, 18-16, 18-22, 24-22, 30-22
