Skolars losing run continued with a home defeat at the hands of bottom of the table South Wales Scorpions. They contributed to their own downfall making three errors from high kicks that saw the visitors take full advantage and score each time.

The game had started with Skolars dominating, forcing three goal line drop outs in the first half. The first one followed a good run from deep in his own half by Marcus Ellliott. After Mike Bishay’s kick ensured they would get another set, it was Aaron Small who scored on the left side.

But the Scorpions levelled the scores six minutes later when Skolars failed to defend a Paul Emmanuelli kick to the Welsh right wing, Yannic Parker taking the ball to score. Skolars regained the lead when James Anthony cut his way through the centre of the defence, Mike Bishay converting the try.

Again the visitors fought back and after Kyle Scrivens was held up over the line, Daffyd Hellard forced his way through the defence to score. Skolars took a narrow 14-10 half-time lead when Matt Cook drew in the defence to create space for winger Chris Bishay to score his first try for the club.

Both sides made errors in the early part of the second half, with penalties conceded on both sides for holding on in the tackle. For South Wales Jonny Leather made a couple of good runs from full-back, but Skolars struggled to make any inroads into the visitors defence despite a far larger, more experience pack.The midpoint of the half had passed before the next score, again Emmanuelli kicked high to the corner, Jimmy Morgan lost control and Parker just managed to get to the ball before crossing the touchline.

Skolars had to defend close to their line straight afterwards, having kicked off directly into touch. But after defending that set, the lead changed hands again, with player/coach Jermaine Coleman taking a bomb from Mike Bishay.

South Wales determination saw them score two decisive tries in seven minutes to seal the game. Emmanuellli put through a grubber and Tala Petelo gathered to score under the posts. Then yet another high kick to the corner saw another error from Skolars, Ian Newbury scoring for the visitors.

With time running out Skolars had one chance to level the game. Mike Bishay chipped the ball over the defence, Coleman got to the ball, but when he was stopped by Jonny Leather the pass to Bishay went to ground and the Scorpions held out for their first win since last July.

London Skolars

1 Marcus Elliott

2 Jimmy Morgan

3 Matt Cook

4 Joe Price

5 Chris Bishay

6 Jermaine Coleman

7James Anthony

8 Michael Sykes

9 Mike Bishay

10 David Williams

11 Aaron Small

12 Will Lovell

13 Lamont Bryan

 

Subs (all used)

14 Louis Robinson

21 Lewis Reed

19 Sam Druce

17 Joel Wicks

 

Tries: Small (4), Anthony (22), C Bishay (38), Coleman (64)

Goals: Elliott 0/1, Bishay 2/2, Druce 0/1

 

South Wales Scorpions

10 Jonny Leather

28 Yannic Parker

3 Paul Edwards

4 Kyle Scrivens

2 Ian Newbury

21 Ryan Millington

7 Paul Emmanuelli

23 Anthony Symons

17 Zak Williams

12 Barrie Phillips

29 Andrew Joy

18 Bradley Hill

19 Connor Davies

 

Subs (all used)

14 Daffyd Hellard

6 Curtis Davies

30 Chistopher Speck

20 Tala Petelo

 

Tries: Parker (10,62), Hellard (36), Petelo (73), Newbury (76)

Goals: Emmanuelli 3/5

 

Scoring Sequence: 4-0, 4-4, 10-4, 10-10, 14-10, 14-16, 20-16, 20-22, 20-26

 

Penalty count: 9-10

Half-time:  14-10

Referee: Chris Campbell

Attendance: 304

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