BetFred League 1 – 23 August 2019
London Skolars 30 Hunslet 34
Skolars’ slim chances of reaching the play-offs were ended in dramatic fashion with Hunslet scoring from the last pass of the game, after Skolars had been in a good position to gain a win.
With the scores level, Skolars’ fourth drop-goal attempt was charged down by Callum Lancaster, who raced downfield, but was brought down inches from the line by Omari Caro. After two drives, the ball went back to Simon Brown, who was well placed to go for a drop-goal, but, as the defense raced to block him, he swung the ball to the right and Gareth Potts scored in the corner, after consultations between the referee and his touch judge.
The kick-off was delayed due to problems on the M1, but it was the visitors who made the early running. After Zach Braham had been held-up over the line, Hunslet forced before Nick Halafihi slipped past the defence. Jimmy Watson had to contend with the sun-setting brightly in the first half and he spilled a couple of high bombs, the first resulting in a try for Liam Scott for Skolars’ first try.
They took the lead two minutes later when Neil Thorman passed the ball out wide for Jerome Yates to touchdown in the corner, before Jordan Williams ran onto Jermaine Coleman’s kick for his ninth try of the season. Thorman’s conversion and a penalty three minutes later extended the lead, but Hunslet’s kick-off found touch and they moved the ball across to the right from the resulting scrum for Tom Ashton to touchdown.
Both sides were reduced to twelve after Judd Greenhalgh and Ryan Wright were sin-binned for throwing punches. Adam Robinson crashed his way over the tryline, Joe Sanderson’s conversion levelling the scores two minutes before half-time.
Hunslet regained the lead early in the second period. Skolars conceded a penalty for holding down after Callum Lancaster had made a break from a scrum. Back from the sin-bin, a short pass by Ryan Wright set up Mike Emmett’s try.
After a Hunslet break was pulled back for crossing, Skolars took advantage with Thorman’s pass to Williams finding the centre with space out on the left. After Matty Davies picked up a loose ball, he and Iliess Macani made good yards, before Richard Wilkinson went over on the right, with Mike Bishay picking up the kicking duties, adding a penalty five minutes later.
The South Leeds side fought back, first forcing a goal-line drop-out, then Simon Brown kicked to the left with Lancaster taking the ball and scoring in the corner, Brown adding the conversion to level the scores.
The last eight minutes saw Skolars looking for a drop-goal, but Hunslet were always alert and were quick to block each of the attempts. In contrast, even when they had a seven tackle set Hunslet couldn’t get close enough for a meaningful attempt for a one-pointer, until that dramatic final minute. Though a large Friday night crowd was entertained by a thrilling game, after losing their last two games by a single point, it was another frustrating defeat for Skolars.
LONDON SKOLARS
2 Iliess Macani
5 Elliot Jennings
3 Omari Caro
4 Jordan Williams
1 Jerome Yates
14 Richard Wilkinson
6 Jermaine Coleman
10 Judd Greenhalgh
9 Neil Thorman
13 Liam Scott
12 Lamont Bryan
11 Rob Tuliatu
20 Matt Ross
Subs (all used)
15 Matt Davies
16 Jon Magrin
17 Mike Greenhalgh
7 Mike Bishay
Tries: Scott (15), Yates (17),Williams (21,50), Wilkinson (58)
Goals: Thorman 3/5, Bishay 2/2
Sin-bin; J Greenhalgh (32) – fighting
HUNSLET
1 Jimmy Watson
2 Gareth Potts
24 Reece Chapman-Smith
3 Tom Ashton
26 Callum Lancaster
6 Joe Sanderson
7 Simon Brown
16 Zach Braham
20 Vila Halfihi
10 Adam Robinson
30 Charlie Martin
12 Duane Straugheir
17 Dan Hawksworth
Subs (all used)
14 Ryan Wright
13 Mike Emmett
15 Michael Haley
25 Lewis Heckford
Tries: Halafihi (10), Ashton (26), Robinson (38), Emmett (43), Lancaster (72), Potts (80)
Goals: Sanderson 4/4, Brown 1/2
Sin-bin: Wright (32) – fighting
Penalty count: 7-8
Half-time: 18-18
Referee: Matt Rossleigh
Attendance: 1,035
SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 6-6, 10-6, 16-6, 18-6, 18-12, 18-18; 18-24, 22-24, 28-24, 30-24, 30-30, 30-34
