Skolars long trip to the North East saw them come back with a bonus point, but rueing their failure to capitalise on long periods of territorial advantage and possession.
The game had just got underway when a torrential downpour started. The home side were quick to pounce on a handling error in the difficult conditions with a try for Sam Bowring. When Skolars were penalised for offside at the kick-off Thunder again took advantage with Matty Beharrell going over in centrefield.
The home side had a good chance to extend their lead when Jamie Rooney kicked a 40-20, but after defending that set of six, Skolars began to attack, twice forcing Thunder to drop out. Martyn Smith made a 50 metre break from his own half, but it wasn’t until less than two minutes before the interval that Skolars got on the scoreboard with Mike McMeeken, dual registered with Broncos, forcing his way through the defence. Sam Druce converted to leave Skolars two points behind at the break.
The heavens opened again at the start of the second half, this time with hailstone as well as rain, the latter leaving standing water behind the Thunder tryline. However, apart from forcing one early goal line drop out, the Londoners didn’t take advantage of the damp conditions underfoot as well as the home side with former England international Jamie Rooney often forcing Skolars to bring the ball back from deep in their own half. With handling at a premium, errors meant Gateshead could attack from close to Skolars tryline and two early tries gave them a twelve point lead.
When Skolars did kick deep to the wing, it forced an error from Gateshead and Judd Greenhalgh pushed his way through for his fifth try in six games. However, when Ricky Hough scored Thunder’s fifth try it looked like Skolars could be denied a bonus point, but a late intercept by Mufaro Mvududu narrowed the losing margin to ensure that Skolars stayed just ahead in the league table of the University of Gloucestershire All-Golds, who they take on next week.
GATESHEAD THUNDER
3 Jacob Blades
5 Tom Capper
4 Joe Brown
13 Sam Bowring
25 Omari Caro
1 Jamie Rooney
26 Matty Beharrell
14 Matt Barron
27 Keal Carlile
30 Aaron Ollett
12 Jason Payne
11 Rhys Clarke
9 Ricky Hough
Subs (all used)
19 Josh Stoker
6 Paul Stamp
22 Callum Cockburn
21 Joe Hodgson
Tries: Bowering (7), Beharrell 10,62), Payne (58), Hough (74)
Goals: Rooney 2/5
LONDON SKOLARS
1 John Paxton
14 Judd Greenhalgh
4 Mufaro Mvududu
3 Lamont Bryan
5 Jamie O’Callagahan
6 Courtney Davies
7 Sam Druce
10 Dave Williams
9 Martyn Smith
20 Tely Pelo
12 Mike Worrincy
16 Mike McMeeken
22 Olly Purslow
Subs (all used)
21 Ryan McDonald
11 Louis Robinson
13 Sam Wellings
23 Rob Thomas
