Kingstone Press Championship 1
York City Knights 36
London Skolars 16
Though outplayed, for a long period in the second half Skolars looked like they might pick up a bonus point at York, but two quick fire tries just after hour mark established the Knight’s superiority.
After a failed interception attempt saw Ryan Malinder run through the gap in the defence to open the scoring for York, Skolars enjoyed some early dominance. Courtney Davies’ short pass helped Sam Wellings break the defence for the Londoner’s first try, Matt Bradley’s conversion levelling the scores. With Ryan McDonald causing problems in attack against his old side, Skolars got some good field position. It was a long pass from Davie that set up the second try with Judd Greenhalgh going in at the corner.
Bradley missed a difficult conversion and went off with a damaged shoulder sustained a couple of tackles earlier. With Anthony Cox having limped off in the first ten minutes, it meant coach Joe Mbu had little opportunity to spell his forwards.
With a big overlap on the right, Adam Dent scored an easy try and the Knights followed it up three minutes later, Jack Lee plucking the ball out the Skolars’ hands 5 metres from their own line.
Skolars worked hard in defence with Tely Pelo and Dave Williams regularly stopping the York forwards in their tracks. However, with Skolars tiring the Knights started to create gaps on the flanks and, after missing out on several chances in the second half, tries for James Saltonstall and Ed Smith gave them a comfortable lead.
Martyn Smith scored one of his trademark short range tries, converted by Sam Druce, but Skolars needed another score to get the bonus point. Instead they allowed the ball to run dead from the kick off, forcing themselves to have to drop out from under their posts. York’s James Haynes duly punished the error and Benn Hardcastle kicked his sixth conversion of the day.
KNIGHTS
1 Jamie Haynes
28 Adam Dent
23 James Saltonstall
4 Greg Minikin
5 Ben Dent
23 Benn Hardcastle
7 Johnny Presley
18 Jake Joynt
9 Jack Lee
10 JackAldous
11 Ryan Mallinder
12 Ed Smith
13 Lee Paterson
Subs (all used)
6 Pat Smith
24 Nathan Harper
8 Nathan Freer
15 Jason Golden
Tries: Mallinder (7), A Dent (23), Lee (26), Saltonstall (62), E Smith (65), Haynes (76)
Goals: Hardcastle 6/6
LONDON SKOLARS
1 Dennis Tuffour
14 Judd Greenhalgh
4 Mufaro Mvududu
3 John Paxton
5 Ibrahim Kabia
6 Coutney Davies
7 Matt Bradley
20 Tely Pelo
9 Martyn Smith
21 Ryan McDonald
11 Sam Wellings
12 Anthony Cox
10 Dave Williams
Subs (all used)
13 Louis Robinson
8 Rob Thomas
16 Sam Druce
