This weekend sees the London Junior Challenge Cup Final’s take place at Hemel Stag’s Pennine Way ground.
Skolars 17’s have reached the final for the second year in a row and will be looking to make up for 2015’s heart breaking last minute defeat by Brixton Bulls. This year’s opponents are the formidable Croydon Hurricanes who have a host of Broncos Academy players in their ranks and will be a very tough test for the Skolars boys.
However the 17’s will be confident of going one better than last year, as they have made a fantastic start to the 2016 Junior League season. They are unbeaten, winning 7 from 7 fixtures, scoring a remarkable 306 points and conceding just 26. The coaching team pick from a full squad, with only powerful centre Nicky Freeman, barnstorming prop Osman Dimen and second rower Jonathon Kpoku unavailable, however they know they will have to be at their best to contain a powerful and athletic Croydon side.
The U17’s have been in development for a number of years now and this year the quality has been added to by the excellent U16’s that have made the step up. Under the watchful eye of coaches Fred Pentecost and Pete Hamer, with Sean Scott entering the fold this year, they have worked closely with First Team Assistant Matt Cuss to ensure a strong connection between the 1st team squad and the processes involved at the top level of the club. Team Manager Lorraine Pentecost is the glue that keeps all the boys and coaches together and a cup final win will be just rewards for a fantastic off field team, which includes an active group of supportive parents, who do a sterling job, week in week out.
The Skolars have high hopes for many of the players, with a strong core of the group expected to make the step up to Academy level rugby next year in the London Men’s Premier League.
Matt Cuss spoke of the team ‘everyone at the club is looking forward to the Final tomorrow, reaching it is a fantastic achievement and winning it will be all the sweeter after the defeat last year. I know the players have been working hard all season, and have seen each game as a stepping stone to the next. The coaches are very keen to develop players and develop them as young people, this attitude, coupled with the squads on field talents has meant that they are exceeding expectations in all areas during this 2016 season.’
Everyone at the club wishes the boys well and the best of luck for tomorrow’s game.
20 Man Squad
Tom Scott
Jordan Rhoden
Arnold Harrison
Tom Hamer
Olly Clague
David Adekeye
Joel Bateson
Nick Grimes
Kaine Norman
Christian Gale
Clem Harrison
Drew Townsend
Mitchell Youngs
Sam Glossop
Ben Woodward
Alex Pentecost
Sam Hurding
Chris Anderson
Guiallume Ragot
Joel Kpoku
