Kingstone Press League 1 Shield

London Skolars 16 University of Gloucestershire All-Golds 6

 

Extending their winning run to eight games, Skolars made certain of a place in the Shield final in a fortnight. They will play Hunslet in that game, with the home advantage effectively to be decided by the result when the two sides meet next weekend in South Leeds in the last round of league games.

 

It wasn’t an afternoon for free-flowing rugby, with torrential rain, plus thunder and lightning all starting towards the end of the first half. Skolars were able to control the game sufficiently to deny All-Golds of much possession in attacking positions. “The emphasis was on defence today” commented head coach Jermaine Coleman after the game. “I thought our line speed and contact were excellent against a solid team that was strong in the centre.”

 

Both sides had good field position in the opening stages thanks to penalties, but neither side was able to use it to their advantage. Jacob Ogden came close twice, first just unable to get to a Mike Bishay kick to the corner before it drifted into touch, the second saw him lose control of a high Jy-Mel Coleman under pressure from the All-Golds.

 

All-Golds made some good runs down the flanks, but couldn’t penetrate the defence near the tryline. When Skolars had a restart from the 20 metre line, Coleman opted to kick deep. Chris Barlow couldn’t prevent the ball from finding touch just inside his 20 metre area. The next attack saw Ben Pointer held up for the third time in the game, but it wasn’t long before they did get on the scoreboard, Bishay moving into the line to slip through the All-Golds defence unopposed to score under the posts.

 

All-Golds had a chance late on when Ben Stead kicked deep to the corner but Mo Agoro couldn’t keep control. Another kick through from Skolars at the other end, this time from Charlie Lawrence almost saw Coleman score. All-Golds conceded a goal-line drop-out and had to defend again before the hooter sounded.

 

Skolars scored early in the second half in a lull between rainstorms, taking advantage after Steve Parry had been penalised for backchat. They moved the ball right and, with everyone expecting Eddie Mbaraga to make his usual forceful run to the line, he drew the defence before offloading to Smokie Junor, Coleman adding the conversion.

 

With conditions worsening, Coleman regularly kicked downfield forcing All-Golds to have to take the ball from close to their own tryline. He extended the lead with two with penalties goals. After the second, All-Golds found touch from the kick-off and then enjoyed a period of sustained attack, with Brad Kisslingbury finally breaking the defence for a late try.

 

The end of the game saw both sides form a guard of honour for Dave Williams in his last scheduled home game before retirement.

 

LONDON SKOLARS

  7 Mike Bishay

27 Smokie Junor

24 Michael Brown

  4 Lameck Juma

28 Jacob Ogden

  6 Jy-Mel Coleman

  9 Charlie Lawrence

25 Michael Sykes

29 Rob Butler

26 Ben Pointer

11 Lamont Bryan

10 David Williams

12 Eddie Mbaraga

13 Ryan Chester

 

Subs (all used)

14 Phil Lyon

  8 Louis Robinson

18 Michael Greenhalgh

15 Kazeem Faturoti-Edwards

 

Tries: Bishay (22), Junor (43)

Goals: Coleman 4/4

 

All-GOLDS

  1 Alex Gaskell

  2 Mo Agoro

  3 Phil Cowburn

  4 Brad KisslingburyÂ

  5 Chris Barlow

  6 Jack Mitchell

  7 Ben Stead

  8 Malaki Lloyd-Jones

  9 Luke Stephens

10 Harrison Elliott

11 Kadeem Williams

12 Billy Brickhill

13 Danny Fallon

 

Subs (all used)

14 Steve Parry

15 James Mason

16 Joe Mclean

17 Harry Kidd

 

Tries: Kisslingbury (70)

Goals: Stead 1/1
Penalty count: 8-7

 

Half-time: 6-0

Referee: Brandon Robinson

Attendance: 218

 

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 14-0, 16-0, 16-6

---