MATCH REPORT: SKOLARS 16 V NORTH WALES CRUSADERS 30
3rd July 2022
Skolars run of games against the top three in the league saw them push North Wales Crusaders hard and it wasn’t until the last five minutes when the home side put the game out of reach.
Skolars opened the scoring; Jarred Bassett racing onto a Phil Lyon grubber kick. North Wales advanced upfield after a relieving penalty and with Skolars on the backfoot, they moved the ball right for Harry Swarbrick to score. Skolars regained the lead soon afterwards; Bassett hugging the left wing from 40 metres out and accelerating his way past the defence. The full-back almost had a third on the next attack, but could only get a hand to a high kick from Lyon.
That lead didn’t last long. Crusaders attacked downfield; Reece Briers looked to be moving the ball to the left, but then switched to the right – opening up a massive gap in the defence to score under the posts. A break by Ah Van gave Crusaders another attacking opportunity, but Scott Turner couldn’t take the high kick cleanly. He made no mistake a few minutes later when he dived over in the corner.
With a four point lead, Crusaders elected to run a penalty close to Skolars’ line, but lost possession on the first tackle. Luciano Bejanidze was held just short of the try line, then Crusaders went almost the length of the pitch on the next set forcing a goal-line drop-out. However, Lyon found touch and Skolars had possession in the minute, Leighton Ball being stopped five metres from the try line as the half-time hooter sounded.
Skolars again scored early in the half from a Lyon kick, this time Lameck Juma finishing off a chip and chase. The missed conversion saw scores level again. The next Skolars attack saw Lyon lose possession on the tryline. Both sides then lost possession early in their tackle counts, but when Crusaders were able to retain the ball they got it to Rob Massam outwide and there was no stopping him touching down.
North Wales were making regular inroads deep into Skolars’ territory, but were twice stopped on the last tackle with ball in hand ten metres out. Skolars weren’t making the same metres in attack and Johnson and Massam returned deep kicks well. Skolars’ one real chance was stopped for crossing and when Crusaders received a penalty 40 metres out, Johnson coolly kicked the goal to put his side eight points clear with minutes remaining. Skolars tried a short kick-off, Crusaders took the ball and Johnson was on hand to finish off a Briers’ break to round off his 200th appearance for Crusaders.
CRUSADERS
1 Tommy Johnson
2 Scott Turner
3 Harry Swarbrick
4 Matt Reid
5 Rob Massam
14 Reece Briers
7 Brad Billsborough
8 Matt Fletcher
9 Paul Nash
10 Callum Hazzard
11 Patrick Ah Van
12 Kieran Sherratt
13 Alex Eckley
Subs (all used)
17 Declan Gregory
15 Brad Brennan
30 Jono Smith
16 Jack Houghton
Tries: Swarbrick (11), Briers (19), Turner (26), Massam (55), Johnson (76)
Goals: Johnson 5/6
LONDON SKOLARS
1 Jarred Bassett
20 Leighton Ball
3 Lameck Juma
4 Aaron Small
5 Reece Rance
7 Phil Lyon
6 Elliott Hutchngs
22 Anthony Cox
9 Neil Thorman
10 Judd Greenhalgh
12 Harry Kaufman
11 Luciano Bejanidze
13 Liam O’Callaghan
Subs (all used)
14 Doug Chirnside
15 Christian Gale
19 Matt Ross
8 Henry Daventanivalu
Tries: Bassett (7,15), Juma (43)
Goals: Lyon 2/3
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Penalty count: 6-3
Half-time: 16-12
Referee: James Jones
Att: not given
SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 6-6, 6-12, 12-12, 16-12; 16-16, 22-16, 24-16, 30-16
