On Sunday, London Skolars cemented themselves a place in this year’s top 8 play offs. A remarkable achievement given where the club placed last year.
Limping in at fourth last in 2015, things were tough for the club. There were personnel changes mid-way through the season and the club was forced to wait nearly two years for their new clubhouse to be completed.
But that was 2015.
2016 brought a blank canvass and a fresh start. The club recruited well in the off-season, spear headed by young charismatic coach Jermaine Coleman. Coleman brought his style of play and assembled a strong squad for Skolars. After a shock loss early in the season to amateur club Pikington Recs, in the Challenge Cup, slowly but surely, Coleman has guided his men to the Top 8 throughout the 2016 campaign.
The team has built on their performances each week, beating some of the competition’s benchmark teams like Keighley, Doncaster and Barrow Raiders along the way.
A far cry from the end of the 2015 season. The tide has turned and the promise of greener pastures await.
The club will open their new clubhouse, which includes an office suite, meeting rooms, a custom built bar overlooking the playing field, a gym and shop.
Making the Top 8 has been the goal for the club for this year and is yet another sign of the positive changes happening at New River. Combined with a growing juniors and minis section, the club is building a self-sustaining eco-system and preparing to not just survive but to thrive in their urban habitat.
This weekend there’s a Minis Festival from 10 am – 12pm, which will see 15 teams from Under 7s to Under 11s across 8 different clubs take part at New River.
The First Team will take on Kingstone Press League 1 table leaders Toulouse Olympique, in what will be a good litmus test for Skolars.
Toulouse have been the benchmark of this year’s competition, unbeaten and blowing many of their opponents out of the water. The challenge for Skolars is very real but one that the club is looking forward to. There’s the potential to finish 6th place with a win over Toulouse, if Keighley lose their match on the weekend.
SAT 9th JULY v TOULOUSE – KICK OFF IS 2.00 PM. It has previously been incorrectly advised as 3pm.
Now is the time to support the team as they need you more than ever.
Skolars Half-Season Memberships are now available. Catch all the action with 3 Skolars home games including Friday Night Lights for just £30.
You can also buy tickets to Challenge Cup Final and the England v Australia game with us. Check out our website or call us for more information.
Contact 020 8888 8488 for more information or email info@skolarsrl.com
Tickets for the Toulouse game available online at https://www.skolarsrl.com/tickets/skolars-tickets/
