Kingstone Press League 1
York City Knights 36 London Skolars 18
Skolars led by twelve points at half-time, but five unanswered tries saw them crash to a third consecutive defeat.
York had led early on when Andy Ellis broke the defensive line, offloading to Tim Spears who got the ball away to Liam Harris. The rest of the first half belonged to Skolars. Mike Bishay, back from injury after three months out, forced a goal-line drop-out. Eddie Mbaraga went close, before an inside pass saw Mike Sykes crash over, Jy-Mel Coleman converting to level the scores.
A deep penalty kick by Coleman set up field position, from which Josh Allison touched down on the right. In the last minute of the half, a long kick by Charlie Lawrence was just touched by the York full-back and with Skolars getting possession from the goal-line drop-out. Lameck Juma was held up before Sadiq Abebiyi broke the defence to put Skolars 6-18 up at the break.
York coach James Ford’s half-time talk must have been clear and concise as his players came out a couple of minutes before the match officials and the Skolars’ side. They soon levelled the score, Joe Batchelor scoring after a Skolars error. Coleman then kicked-off into touch and York took advantage with Adam Robinson touching down.
They made another break down the right, but when Saxton kicked the ball straight to Jake Melling, Michael Brown blocked Saxton’s progress and was sin-binned. Skolars defence held out for 10 minutes with only a Harris penalty for York, but when Brown decided to let the ball go dead in goal, Harris was alert and got to it before it rolled out. Three minutes later Jonny Presley cut through the centre to seal the game.
David Foggin-Johnson went over in the corner with eight minutes remaining and Skolars’ woes continued when Lameck Juma was sent off for a high tackle, though Robinson was sin-binned for his retaliation.
York City Knights
1 Ashley Robinson
5 Tom Saxton
19 James Haynes
3 Nev Morrison
2 David Foggin-Johnson
31 Liam Harris
23 Jonny Presley
20 Adam Robinson
26 Andy Ellis
10 Chris Siddons
12 Ed Smith
11 Joe Batchlor
13 Tim Spears
Subs (all used)
14 Harry Carter
16 Ronan Dixon
17 Brad Hay
18 Bobby Tyson-Williams
Tries: Harris (5,64), Batchelor (43), Robinson (48), Presley (67), Foggin-Johnson)72)
Goals: Harris 6/7
Sin-bin: Robson (78) – fighting
London Skolars
20 Jake Melling
2 Sam Nash
3 Josh Allison
4 Lameck Juma
24 Michael Brown
6 Jy-Mel Coleman
7 Mike Bishay
25 Michael Sykes
9 Charlie Lawrence
10 David Williams
18 Michael Greenhalgh
12 Eddie Mbaraga
13 Ryan Chester
Subs (all used)
14 Billy Driver
15 Kazeem Fatuoti
29 Callum Bustin
28 Sadiq Adebiyi
Tries: Sykes (13), Allison (18), Adebiyi (40)
Goals: Coleman 3/3
Sent-off: Juma (78) – high tackle
Sin-bin: Brown (51) – obstruction
Penalty count: 13-4
Half-time: 6-18
Referee: Steve Race
Attendance: 753
SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 6-6, 6-12, 6-18, 12-18 20-18, 24-18, 30-18, 36-18
