A dominant display by Skolars saw them record their record winning margin since they entered the professional leagues in 2003, extending their winning run to four games in a 11 try victory over Oxford.
They showed their intention to attack straight from the kick-off, with a 40-20 kick from Charlie Lawrence giving them a scrum 10 metres from Oxford’s line. Josh Allison lost the ball over the line from the next attack, but, in stopping him, Adam Dent took a knock.
After forcing a goal-line drop-out, Skolars moved the ball left, Mike Bishay kicked through and the ball ricocheted off a limping Dent with Jake Melling following up to score. Dent went off before the restart and Oxford’s re-arrangement of their backs left them short in attack.
That was Melling’s first try for the club in his 17th game, his second try of the season took just four more minutes, as Skolars moved the ball out to the left wing to score their second try of the afternoon.
Skolars scored again three minutes later, James Hill making a break from his own half, John Paxton continuing the break before releasing Jy-Mel Coleman to finish. Oxford did have a short spell in attack, but it wasn’t long before Skolars were pressuring the tryline. Bishay lost the ball with an overlap to exploit, but they scored the next time they had the ball, Allison creating a gap before offloading to Eddie Mbaraga. He then scored himself to make it 30 nil.
Another 40-20, this time by Jy-Mel Coleman set up another strong position, but Skolars couldn’t extended the score before half-time.
Oxford forced a goal-line drop-out soon after the restart, but Skolars’ defence was strong and after, Lamont Bryan stormed through the defence, Mbaraga went through a gap on the right, before slipping the ball inside for Bishay to make certain of the try. When Oxford lost the ball 20 metres from their own line they were punished again, with Allison adding his second try. Four minutes later, Bishay scored his second, again taking an inside pass from Mbaraga.
With the forwards making strong runs, Skolars were regularly getting in good attacking positions and when they found a gap on the left, Jake Melling touched down for his hat-trick. Jy-Mel Coleman missing a conversion for the only time in the afternoon.
There were several stoppages in the game, with Dave Williams and Louis Robinson both taking knocks to the head as they went into a tackle together and there was a long dealy after John Paxton fell badly after leaping for a high pass and was carried off with suspected ACL damage. Skolars were quick off the mark when the game resumed, with Jy-Mel Coleman setting up Mbaraga’s second try.
Eventually the visitors did get a meaningful attack, with Kieran Hyde being held up over the tryline. The end of that set saw him chip the ball to the wing, but Allison plucked the ball from the air and they didn’t get near the tryline again.
With some tempers rising and a few careless tackles, Skolars chose to calm things down and run the clock down with a penalty goal. They saved the best try until last, with Jy-Mel Coleman kicking the ball out to the wing, picking out Allison, who patted the ball back to Kazeem Faturoti-Edwards, who then ran round to score under the posts. That gave Jy-Mel Coleman an easy conversion for his 11th goal, equal the club’s record for goals in a match.
LONDON SKOLARS
7 Mike Bishay
2 Sam Nash
3 Josh Allison
20 Jake Melling
5 James Hill
29 Jermaine Coleman
6 Jy-Mel Coleman
25 Michael Sykes
9 Charlie Lawrence
11 Lamont Bryan
10 David Williams
12 Eddie Mbaraga
13 Ryan Chester
Subs (all used)
27 Phil Lyon
8 Louis Robinson
18 Michael Greenhalgh
15 Kazeem Faturoti-Edwards
Tries: Melling (6,10,58). Jy-Mel Coleman (13), Mbaraga (28,64), Allison (34,51), Bishay (47,55), Faturoti-Edwards (77)
Goals: Jy-Mel Coleman 11/12
OXFORD
1 Adam Dent
2 Luke Gardiner
22 Harvey Burnett
4 Tom Newbould
5 Jordan Gill
6 Casey Canterbury
7 Scott Daniel Fleming
8 Jake Joynt
9 Bradley Moules
10 Lee Land
12 Dwaine Mcrae
13 Kieran Hyde
24 Stuart Biscomb
Subs (all used)
14 Sam Druce
25 Francis Welsh
17 Anthony Cox
15 Jordan Paul Siddons
Penalty count: 9-7
Half-time: 30-0
Referee: Matt Rossleigh
Attendance: 218
SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 18-0, 24-0, 30-0, 36-0, 42-0, 48-0, 52-0, 58-0, 60-0, 66-0
