MATCH REPORT: LONDON SKOLARS 38 HURRICANES 34
Ben Stead’s scored two tries and four conversions in a valiant Hurricanes performance. Pic: Andy Shaw
LONDON SKOLARS 38 MIDLANDS HURRICANES 34
DAVE MUSSON, New River Stadium, Saturday 27 August 2022
HURRICANES head coach was left pondering what might have been, after his side almost returned from the capital with the win despite playing the entire match with just 12 men.
AJ Boardman’s sending off in the first minute dealt a significant blow to the Midlander’s hopes of securing victory in their final away match of the year, but they still managed to come agonisingly close.
Two tries apiece from Tom Wilkinson and Ben Stead, plus scores from Bailey Dawson, and Brad Clavering were the reward for the Hurricanes’ efforts, but they were ultimately never quite able to get ahead of the Skolars.
Squires said: “Unfortunately we could not recover from having a man sent off for the second tackle of the game. That decision left us on the back foot and always trying to find our feet.
“Playing back-to-back weeks without a full team started to take its toll and there were some tired and busted bodies out there who could easily have won the game on the day.”
It was the worst possible start for the Hurricanes, with Boardman’s red card followed swiftly by two tries from the hosts, leaving the Midlands side down a man and 12 points after 10 minutes.
But, just after the quarter of an hour mark, the Hurricanes found a way through, Dawson getting on the end of a lovely Stead chip through.
However, Skolars scored a third try ten minutes before the break to leave their visitors with a mountain to climb in the second half.
Credit to the Hurricanes, they made a more-than-valiant attempt to do so.
Two minutes into the half, Nathan Newbound made a superb break before feeding Wilkinson, who finished well in the corner.
Liam Welham almost drew the Midlanders level moments later, only for the Skolars to shut him out and then go and extend their lead to ten points shortly afterwards.
Seeing the deficit grow to double figures might have been enough for the Hurricanes to give up the ghost, but instead they hit back once more. Again, Welham was at the heart of it, breaking the line, then gathering his own grubber kick before slipping it to Stead, who also gathered his own grubber and touched down under the posts.
But, in what became the story of the afternoon, the Hurricanes were never quite able to get ahead, and the Skolars extended that lead just minutes later.
On the hour mark, the Hurricanes struck again to this time come within two points in what had become a quite fantastic and resolute display. Some great play down their right side eventually set up Clavering for a finish under the posts.
The ding-dong battle continued, with Skolars scoring once more only for the Hurricanes to hit back again, making the most of a forward pass from the hosts to move up the field and play Wilkinson in for his second of the game.
The most unlikely of victories was still within grasp for the visitors, until Skolars struck what was ultimately the killer blow five minutes from time, extending their lead again.
Yet, still that wasn’t the end of it, with Stead collecting his own chipped kick to bag his second of the day and bring the Hurricanes back within a score.
But, time simply ran out and the Hurricanes were left empty-handed.
They conclude their season on Sunday 4 September when Cornwall come to the Midlands. Kick-off is at 3pm at Portway.
MATCHFACTS
HURRICANES: Stead, Wallis, Wilkinson, Flanagan, Freeman, Hepple, L Welham, Boardman, Cullimore, Clavering, Newbound, J Dawson, B Dawson.
Subs: Joel, Bull, Sheridan, M Welham.
Tries: Dawson (17), Wilkinson (42, 65), Stead (52, 77), Clavering (58)
Goals: Stead 4/5, Hepple 1/1
Red card: Boardman (1)
SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 12-6, 16-6; 16-12, 22-12, 22-18, 26-18, 26-24, 32-24, 32-28, 38-28, 38-34