STRONG, determined and, most of all, bursting with enthusiasm, London Skolars picked up their first league win of the season at Oldham’s expense in the Friday night game at the New River Stadium in North London.
Some of the sport’s top brass, including RFL chief executive Ralph Rimmer, were in the capital for the next day’s Betfred Challenge Cup Final, and here they saw the bottom-of-the-table Londoners produce their best display of the season.
Defensively, Oldham could not hold the big raw-boned home forwards, who won every collision, broke tackles with consummate ease and either scored or fashioned seven tries.
They were orchestrated by clever scrum-half Phil Lyon, whose ball distribution was exemplary on a night when Oldham were clearly second best.
They scored tries by full-back Owen Restall, centre Calvin Wellington and winger Connor Carr but in the main Skolars ran harder, tackled harder and always looked in control from the moment second-row forward Luciano Bejenidze crashed over for the opening try as early as the sixth minute.
Restall and Wellington were soon on terms when a Wellington break created a lovely try for Restall which Martyn Ridyard converted.
Immediately after that, a crucial unforced error allowed Skolars to get back in front — and once they were 12-6 to the good they never looked back.
Forwards Cameck Juma and Rob Tuliatu were too powerful for the Oldham forwards ahead of next Sunday’s big game against derby rivals Swinton Lions at the Vestacare Stadium.
Juma, who had a brilliant game, was sin-binned near the end after handbags with Ethan Ferry.
Scorers:
Skolars: tries - Bejanidze, Tuliatu, Juma (2), Yates (2), Rance; goals - Lyon (5)
Oldham: tries - Restall, Wellington, Carr; goals - Ridyard (2)
Skolars: Jarred Bassett,Leighton Ball,Aaron Small,Jerome Yates,Reece Rance,Alex Deery,Phil Lyon,Rob Tuliatu,Jonny Bell,Harry Kaufmann,Lameck Juma,Luciano Bejanidze,Adam Vrahnos,Billy Leyland,Chris Gale,Judd Greenhalgh,Anthony Cox
Oldham: Owen Restall,Connor Carr,Calvin Wellington,Kian Morgan,Joe Hartley,Martyn Ridyard,Dave Hewitt,Luke Nelmes,Billy Yarrow,Tom Spencer,Dane Windrow,Ethan Ferry,Nyle Flynn,Callum Cameron,Emmerson Whittel,Sean Slater,Jordan Andrade
Ref: L Bland HT: 24-6
