Betfred League 1 – 5th August 2023
London Skolars 18 Midlands Hurricanes 38
Skolars dominated the first half of the game, but couldn’t make that possession count and are now eight points adrift at the foot of the table with four games remaining.
The Hurricanes took a lead in the second minute after Skolars failed to make safe a kick into their in-goal area, Matt Welham being alert to the opportunity. However, the scores were levelled three minutes later, when Tommy Porter scooted over from dummy half. The young hooker was creating problems for the defence early on meaning that the Hurricanes were regularly starting sets deep in their own half. When they lost possession on their own 30 metre line, Skolars took advantage as they shifted the ball to Lameck Juma, Alex Deery adding the conversion.
The lead was short-lived with Mackenzie Turner touching down with Izaac Farrell adding the extras for the visitors. With Liam O’Callaghan playing in the halves, it was another half-back combination for a side which lack the cohesion to challenge the defence meaningfully. A loose pass was picked up by Tom Wilkinson who released Jake Sweeting to race 70 metres to the try line. They went further ahead after the hooter when Farrell regathered his own chip kick before passing wide to Matty Chrimes to score in the corner.
Heavy rain made handling difficult for both sides throughout the game. However, Midlands were able to turn a mistake to their advantage, managing to regather the ball when it was lost backwards before moving the ball out to the right for Welham’s second try. A penalty goal soon afterwards put them three converted scores ahead.
A high deep kick created uncertainty between David Bofenda and Louis O’Sullivan and the resultant knock-on gave the visitors a scrum inside the home side’s 20 metre area. The Hurricanes visitors scored a fifth unanswered try when Turner scored his second try wide on the right, Farrell’s conversion hitting the upright.
Neither side made any meaningful attack for the next quarter of an hour, but Midlands had a good chance when Farrell’s deep kick forced Skolars to turn. Turner was the first over the line, but overshot the ball. Skolars paused momentarily giving a Welham a chance to get to the ball. He didn’t ground it cleanly, but the referee adjudged that one of the attackers had been held back. A cut-off pass to Turner saw him record his hat-trick.
Skolars scored a late try when Mal Lloyd -Jones broke the defence before offloading to Matt Ross to score under the posts, but it was scant consolation for the Skolars.
LONDON SKOLARS
1 Louis O’Sullivan
2 Leighton Ball
3 Luciano Bejandidze
4 Lameck Juma
5 David Bofenda
6 Alex Deery
7 Liam O’Callaghan
10Todd Peut
9 Tommy Porter
15 Malikhi Lloyd-Jones
11 Max Allen
21 Lamont Bryan
15 Matt Ross
Subs (all used)
14 Doug Chirnside
19 Jack Hughes
8 Christian
12 Fraser Peircy-Farley
22 Delaine Bedward
Tries: Porter (5), Juma (13), Ross (80)
Goals: Deery 3/3
HURRICANES
1 Todd Horner
2 Mackenzie Turner
3 Matt Welham
4 Macauley Hallett
10 Matty Chrimes
6 Jake Sweeting
7 Izaac Farrell
20 Jon-Luke Kirby
23 Dan Barcoe
15 Elllis Hobson
24 Tom Wilkinson
21 Aaron Levy
17 Aaron Willis
Subs (all used)
9 Elliott Windley
8 Kieron Moran
22 Toby Richardson
11 Jack Dawson
Tries: Welham (2, 45), Turner (16, 55. 70), Sweeting (32), Chrimes (40)
Goals: Farrell 5/8
Penalties: 4-4
Half-time: 12-12
Referee: Luke Bland
Att: 204
SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 6-6, 12-6, 12-12, 12-18, 12-22; 12-28, 12-30, 12-34, 12-38, 18-38
