London Skolars moved above Hemel in the league table and showed their strength ahead of the play-offs with an emphatic victory at Pennine Way. Mike Worrincy scored a hat-trick and Dylan Skee scored 20 points in a dominant first half performance.
The first try came after three minutes with Skee cutting inside before passing back out to James Anthony who offloaded for Worrincy to score out wide. An error from the kick-off gave Stags good field position and after conceded two penalties in quick succession James Howitt barged over to score.
Skee set up the second try for Skolars kicking through for Worrincy to touchdown and with a swirling wind also added a second conversion from close to the left touchline. He scored the next try himself after dummying to score down the right and again kicked a difficult conversion.
Rob Thomas’ first touch as substitute saw him rip through the defence with Joe Price finishing off the scoring move. Gareth Raynor then attacked from deep in his half straight from the kick-off and Skee scored his second try soon afterwards.
Worrincy, playing in the unaccustomed position of stand-off for the first time, completed his hat-trick just before the break and Skolars were 6-36 ahead at half-time.
The second half lack much of the pace of the first period, though with 28 penalties in the game that was hardly surprising. It wasn’t until well past the hour mark that Skolars scored again with Sam Wellings flick pass releasing Joe Price for his second try of the day.
Hemel didn’t give up and tempers flared several times in the second half. Two late tries from close range by former Skolar Eddie M’Baraga narrowed the scoreline somewhat. However, after losing to the Stags on Good Friday, Skolars will have been delighted to have denied their local rivals a vital bonus point in the race to gain a top three place in the league.
Skolars entertain second in the table North Wales Crusaders on Friday night. A victory for Skolars would move them up to third place and defeating the Crusaders could ensure that Oldham are league champions.
Stags
28 James Hill
5 Harry Mostyn
3 Aaron Small
29 Mason Caton-Brown
31 Tobias Rochester-Bremmer
20 Ben Kavanagh
7 Ben Young
8 James Howitt
22 Joel Miranda
32 Lewis Reed
4 BJ Swindells
29 Alex Ingerfield
13 Jack Molloy
Subs (all used)
1 Sean Johnson
26 Eddie M’Baraga
16 Guy Aldam
33 Miles McLeod
Tries: Howitt (8), MBaraga (72,80)
Goals: Swindells 3/3
London Skolars
1 James Anthony
2 Smokie Junor
4 John Paxton
3 Joe Price
37 Gareth Raynor
12 Mike Worrincy
7 Dylan Skee
30 Michael Sykes
36 Jermaine Wray
10 David Williams
19 James Roche
27 Sam Wellings
13 Olly Purslow
Subs (all used)
9 Martyn Smith
16 Louis Robinson
8 Rob Thomas
26 Evan Simons
Tries: Worrincy (3,13,38), Skee (23,34), Price (29,63)
Goals: Skee 6/7
Penalty count: 15-13
Half-time: 6-36
Referee: Andrew Sweet
Attendance: 563
SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 6-6, 6-12, 6-18, 6-24, 6-30, 6-36, 6-40, 12-40, 18-40
