Skolars leapt above the Bears in the League 1 table after a hard fought victory that saw them win despite playing with 12 men for most of the game.
They dominated the early part of the game, taking an early lead when John Paxton outleapt the defence to touchdown a Tommy Connick kick to the wing. After a 40 metre break by James Anthony, the Bears conceded a penalty and Skolars were able to attack from close range, captain Dave Williams going over to score.
But after Coventry’s Chris Barratt scored, Aaron Small was sin-binned and Skolars had to defend with 12 men, twice holding the opposition up over the tryline. Having weathered the storm, they gained some respite when Jermaine Coleman intercepted a pass 20 metres from his own line, racing 60 metres before offloading to Billy Driver to score under the posts, with Tommy Connick adding the conversion.
Skolars were then reduced to 11 men when Louis Robinson was sent off for retaliation. Inevitably, the Bears scored just before half-time, before Small return to the field.
Having played two games last weekend, it looked like Skolars would tire in the second half and Coventry scored twice in 10 minutes when they swung the ball to the wings. However, Skolars forced the Bears into errors with high kicks creating problems for the Bears facing the sun. Billy Driver broke the defence to level the scores at 18 apiice.
Connick’s conversion and a subsequent penality gave a four point lead and when Coventry had a player sin-binned, with nine minutes to go Skolars were no longer outnumbered on the field. James Antony sliced open the defence 30 metres from the line with four minutes remaining, Connick adding his fourth goal of the afternoon to seal the win.
Coventry Bears
Andy Winfield
Jason Bass
Ben Parry
Simon Phillips
Jamahl Hunte
Dan Price
Cameron Boulter
Jack Morrison
Richie Hughes
Andy Unsworth
Liam Thompson
Chirs Barratt
Matt Cooper
Subs (all used)
Nick Taylor
James Geurtjens
Dan Parker
Morgan Evans
Tries: Barratt, Morrison, Hunte, Phillips
Goals: Price 1/4
London Skolars
1 James Anthony
2 Jimmy Morgan
3 Matt Cook
4 Chris Bishay
5 John Paxton
6 Tommy Connick
7 Jermaine Coleman
8 Michael Sykes
9 Mike Bishay
20 Will Martin
11 Kazeem Faturoti
12 Will Lovell
13 David Williams
Subs (all used)
14 Louis Robinson
15 Billy Driver
16 Mike Benson
17 Aaron Small
Tries: Paxton (4), Williams (24), Driver (34,55), Anthony (76)
Goals: M Bishay 0/2, Connick 4/4
Scoring Sequence:
Penalty count: 10-8
Half-time: 10-14
Referee: Dave Merrick
Attendance: 516
