MATCH REPORT: HURRICANES 50 LONDON SKOLARS 28
Elliott Windley scores his second try of the game. Pic: Andy Shaw
MIDLANDS HURRICANES 50 LONDON SKOLARS 28
DAVE MUSSON, Portway, Sunday 17 April 2022
A DOMINANT second half saw the Midlands Hurricanes bag a comprehensive victory for the second consecutive weekend, even if head coach Rich Squires thought Sunday’s performance was ‘scrappy’ at times.
Two tries apiece from Benn Hardcastle, Hayden Freeman, Elliott Windley and Matty Welham, plus a score from Bradford loanee David Foggin-Johnston were just rewards for the hosts, who followed up a successful trip to Cornwall to sew up back-to-back wins.
Skolars competed well for a small part of the first half but were outclassed after the break, and their five tries - doubles from Alexander Deery and Jarred Bassett, and a Harry Kaufman effort – were somewhat more than they deserved.
Marcus Green breaks the line. Pic: Andy Shaw
Rich Squires said: “It was scrappy, completely different to where we were last week. We completed at 100% last week, but this was just one of those games where we couldn’t get into it.
“It was a little bit stop-start - London controlled parts well to bring it down to their speed, but it didn’t help us. We couldn’t maintain our momentum going forward.
“We’ve got the win, come through unscatched, and can look forward to North Wales next week.”
Playing into the wind, Hurricanes broke the deadlock in the sixth minute when Ben Stead’s bobbling kick evaded everyone except Hardcastle, who pounced.
Benn Hardcastle scores the first try of the match. Pic: Andy Shaw
Three minutes later they were in again; Matty Welham’s brilliant angle cut through the Skolars line before popping a simple pass for Freeman to stroll under the posts.
Skolars hit back after a quarter of an hour through long-time Coventry Bear Kaufman, who took a short Philip Lyon pass to power over.
The hosts extended their lead midway through the first half with a slice of creativity on the final tackle. Hardcastle’s kick seemed too flat to pose a threat, but a quick one-two between Foggin-Johnston and Liam Welham bamboozled the Skolars defence and saw the winger dive in the corner.
David Foggin-Johnston finishes in style. Pic: Rich Beattie
Skolars hit back shortly before the half-hour mark when a wicked bounce agonisingly edged over Liam Welham’s fingertips and Deery profited.
The visitors then drew level minutes later when some slick handling opened up a huge gap for Bassett.
Despite having Freeman in the sinbin and seeing Hardcastle hobble off, Hurricanes were able to edge back into the lead right on half time, when the tricksy Windley wriggled through a gap and snuck over.
Hurricanes struck early in the second half, while still down a man. Stead’s delicate high kick was plucked out of the Midlands air by Matty Welham for a deserved score.
Freeman bagged his second within five minutes of returning to the field with a good finish in the corner, but the credit has to go to Marcus Green for a gut-busting run that started in his own half and ended metres from the Skolars line.
Hayden Freeman grabbed two tries. Pic: Rich Beattie.
Bassett dodged his way through just before the hour to give Skolars hope, but it was short-lived.
Hardcastle returned to the field with a quarter of an hour remaining and his impact was almost immediate, supporting Liam Welham’s terrific break to take an easy pass and finish.
That loosened the Hurricanes, who scored another on their next set. Windley fed Irish international Peter Ryan, who powered up field before slipping it back to Windley for the finish.
Two minutes later Hurricanes punished a flailing Skolars again, with Matty Welham bagging his second just moments after a scorching break from Foggin-Johnston.
Nathan Newbound on the attack. Pic: Andy Shaw
Skolars actually had the final say of the game when Deery bagged his second just before the hooter, but it did little more than flatter the visitors, who had been well and truly battered by their hosts.
Next up for the Hurricanes is possibly their toughest test so far, a trip to top-of-the-table North Wales Crusaders on Sunday 24 April, kick-off 2.30pm.
Another great win for the Hurricanes. Pic: Andy Shaw
MATCHFACTS
HURRICANES: Phil Cowburn, David Foggin-Johnston, Matty Welham, Liam Welham, Hayden Freeman, Ben Stead, Benn Hardcastle, Brad Clavering, Elliott Windley, Peter Ryan, Jack Dawson, Jordan Bull, Tyler Walton
Subs (all used): Trae O’Sullivan, Thomas Blakey, Nathan Newbound, Marcus Green
Tries: Hardcastle (6, 69), Freeman (9, 51), Foggin-Johnston (22), Windley (40, 72), Matty Welham (45, 74)
Goals: Hardcastle 2/3, Stead 5/6
Sinbin: Freeman (37) - slowing play down in the tackle
SKOLARS: Jarred Bassett, Reece Rance, Charles Hammond, Aaron Small, Leighton Ball, Alexander Deery, Philip Lyon, Christian Gale, Doug Chirnside, Judd Greenhalgh, Max Allen, Harry Kaufman, Liam O’Callaghan
Subs (all used): Jonathan Bell, Anthony Cox, Aston Stephenson, Luciano Bejanidze
Tries: Kaufman (15), Deery (28, 80), Bassett (31, 58)
Goals: Lyon 2/3, Bell 2/2
Hurricanes Man of the Match: Elliott Windley
Penalty count: 1-8
Half-time: 22-16
Referee: Bradley Milligan
Attendance: 226
SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 12-6, 16-6, 16-12, 16-16, 22-16, 28-16, 32-16, 32-22, 38-22, 44-22, 50-22, 50-28