By ANDREW JACKSON

WITH a third consecutive home win, Skolars moved above Midlands Hurricanes in the League 1 table though the
Hurricanes have the easier final game next week.
The game got off to a dramatic start when the Hurricanes’ Anthony Boardman received a red card for a head high tackle
after just 30 seconds. Skolars missed out on a try when Aaron Small’s pass went to a Hurricanes’ hand. However, it
wasn’t long before the player advantage told, with Harry Kaufman going over on the left to score against his old club.
Three minutes later Jarred Bassett came into the attacking line to score, Neil Thorman taking over kicking duties from Phil
Lyon.
The Hurricanes started to organise themselves and enjoyed a spell near Skolars’ line, but three successive attempts to go
over from dummy half were easily repelled. There was success when a kick from Ben Stead bounced unkindly for
Bassett, Bailey Dawson following up to touchdown.
Skolars re-asserted themselves but had a piece of luck themselves after Jacob Thomas sliced his kick from left to right,
which split the defence for Jerome Yates to dive over in the corner, leaving them 16-6 up at half-time.
Skolars had another chance soon after the restart, Bassett rounding eight defenders deep in his own half before he was
stopped on his 40 metre line. They made further progress, but Reece Rance’s dive to the line saw him go into touch in-
goal. Nathan Newbould then broke down the Midlands’ right with Tom Wilkinson finishing off with Stead converting from
the touchline.
Bassett broke again from deep in his own half and, though he might have been tempted to round the full-back he made
certain of the try by passing to the supporting Thomas.
Hurricanes again narrowed the gap to four points, Stead kicking through before regathering to score under the posts, but
it wasn’t long before Bassett was crossing the tryline again, collecting a loose ball on the left. With Lyon missing that
conversion, Hurricanes were just two points behind after Jack Dawson twisted in the tackle to ground the ball. Yet again, it
was Bassett who had a hand in the next Skolars try providing the final pass to open a large gap for Small.
Wilkinson added a second try with ten minutes remaining, but couldn’t stop Lyon’s kick-off from bouncing into touch. With
four minutes remaining, the ball was moved to Bassett from a scrum close to the Hurricanes’ tryline and he duly
completed his hat-trick, putting Skolars ten points ahead.
However, Midlands won the ball from the restart and Stead went over for his second try. He picked up a knock as he
scored, so Tyler Hepple took over the kicking duties. The hooter sounded just as the ball was played from the first tackle
deep in the Hurricane’s half. They chose to kick deep, but Bassett was perfectly positioned to take the ball and ran past
the initial chasers. Having scored four tries in each of the last two home games he was stopped just short of the line, Alex
Deery couldn’t take the pass on to touchline and the whistle sounded.
Skolars final game of the season is next Sunday when they travel to Doncaster.
LONDON SKOLARS
1 Jarred Bassett
2 Leighton Ball
3 Jerome Yates
4 Reece Rance
6 Jacob Thomas
7 Phil Lyon
22 Judd Greenhalgh
9 Neil Thorman
8 Christian Gale
12 Luciano Benjanidze
11 Harry Kaufman
13 Matt Ross
Subs (all used)
15 Liam O’Callaghan
17 Alex Deery
10 Kojo Korang
21 Sam Welliings
Tries: Kaufman (6), Bassett (9,58,76), Yates (33), Thomas (50), Small (66)
Goals: Lyon 5/6, Thorman 1/1
HURRICANES
7 Ben Stead
2 Elliot Wallis

27 Tom Wilkinson
10 Dominic Flanagan
5 Hayden Freeman
14 Tyler Hepple
4 Liam Welham
12 Anthony Boardman
23 Chris Cullimore
8 Brad Clavering
17 Nathan Newbound
13 Jack Dawson
11 Bailey Dawson
1 Phil Cowburn
20 David Foggin-Johnston
7 Benn Hardcastle
9 Elliott Windley
10 Peter Ryan
13 Tyler Walton
Subs
1 James Joel
15 Jordan Bull
6 Brad Sheridan
3 Matt Welham (not used)
Tries: B Dawson (20), Wilkinson (43, 70), Stead (54,79), J Dawson (62),
Goals: Stead 4/5, Hepple 1/1
Sending off: Boardman (1) – high tackle
Penalty count: 3-4
Half-time: 16-6
Referee: James Jones
Att: 202
SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0. 12-0, 12-6 16-6, 16-12, 22-12, 22-18, 26-18, 26-24, 32-28, 38-28, 38-34