Words by Jac Davies.
London Skolars earned a share of the spoils at the Keepmoat Stadium after an heroic second half fight back.
Skolars made an encouraging start with Callum Bustin held up over the line. Doncaster put the first points on the board after 17 minutes with Kesik’s try converted by Carr. Doncaster added to their score eight minutes later but Carr was this time unable to convert Tali’s try. When Feka’s try was converted by Carr at the half hour mark, it seemed as though a long afternoon was in store for the Skolars.
The Skolars fightback started after 37 mins as Sam Nash crossed the whitewash in spectacular fashion to make the scores 16-4. Jy-mel Coleman, making his long awaited return from injury failed to convert. As the half time mark approached, Doncaster restored their lead with interest after Tali crossed for his second of the afternoon with Carr providing the conversion to make it 22-4.
Skolars made an early impact in the 43rd minute as Ben Pointer rolled off several defenders to cross for Skolars’ second try of the day. Jy-mel Coleman added the conversion to narrow the gap to twelve points. On fifty three minutes, a Skolars comeback seemed dead in the water as Doncaster scored through a third Tali try and an accompanying conversion from Miller. After some confusion, Skolars’ Simona Vavega was sent to the bin for dissent.
The handicap of missing a man seemed to invigorate the Skolars, as Adebiyi crossed to set up a successful conversion for Coleman. A comeback looked likely on sixty-nine minutes as Adebiyi’s try and Coleman’s conversion closed the gap to 28-22. A tense finish was in store with the clock ticking on an extraordinary Skolars fightback.
The man of the moment was captain Dave Williams who crossed on seventy three minutes. Williams was making his first appearance for the Skolars since his injury against Toronto Wolfpack on the opening day of the League 1 season. Fellow returnee Coleman added the conversion to draw the scores at 28 a piece.
A late penalty attempt at the sticks from the thirty meter line was missed by Coleman, so to was a drop call attempt by Charlie Lawrence.
The Skolars returned to London sitting sixth in the league with third placed Whitehaven the next opponents.
Speaking before the Doncaster clash, head coach Jermaine Coleman commented
“The next few league fixtures with begin to put some meat on the bones as to where teams will stand in the league table. We play a few tough fixtures against top half opponents which provides us with a real opportunity to cement our place ahead of the Super 8s.”
Tickets are available now for Skolars’ clash against Whitehaven. Make it a full day by joining us for a post match pub quiz to be held in the 1995 bar. Please email Jake Melling on jakemelling@skolarsrl.com to book a team.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kingstone-press-league-1-london-skolars-vs-whitehaven-tickets-32688787042
