Monday 27 August 2007

Saints make it two in a row

There was to be no fairytale ending to Saturday’s Challenge Cup Final as St Helens finally overcame the plucky underdogs from Perpignan to claim back to back victories in the competition. However, there was much to be positive about as the game returned to its spiritual home, even if there is still much room to improve the experience.

For half an hour the game was a tight affair, the Catalans can consider themselves a little unlucky to see Jason Crocker’s touchdown chalked off by the video referee in what was an extremely tight call, but there was no doubt about the brilliance of James Roby’s opening try as the young hooker weaved his way through a mesmerised Dragons defence. To their credit the Catalans hit back almost immediately through Younes Khattabi and they could do little about the missed forward pass that gifted Saints winger Ade Gardner a try just before halftime and his team a slightly undeserved 12 – 4 lead going into the break.

In the second-half the power of the Saints pack and the speed of the backline took its toll on a Dragons outfit who started to wilt in the wide open spaces of the Wembley pitch. Saints fullback Paul Wellens put daylight between the two sides just after the break with an opportunist try capitalising on an error from opposite number Clint Greenshields. Youngster Paul Clough effectively ended the match as a contest ten minutes later, capping a strong run with a try.

To their credit the Catalans never gave up hope and when winger Justin Murphy pounced on an uncharacteristic error from Wellens to race away for a classic poachers try it was just reward for their efforts. Any fears of a collapse failed to materialise, although a second try from Gardner underlined the dominance of a St Helens side that ultimately never looked like losing the game.

The decision to jointly award the Lance Todd Trophy for the man of the match jointly to Paul Wellens and Leon Pryce, the first time such an award has been made, raised mant eyebrows. Whilst Wellens had a fine game, it was Saints standoff Pryce who had the single biggest impact on the proceedings, with a highly influential display in attack.

The new Wembley itself provided a magnificent venue for the eighty-four thousand plus crowd (it was noticeable that the empty seats were mainly confined to the Club Wembley areas), although the current absence of entertainment facilities in the area around the stadium compares it unfavourably with last year’s venue in Cardiff. It is to be hoped that planned redevelopment work will provide the surrounding environs will a more fitting location for the carnival atmosphere of the Challenge Cup.

Catalans Dragons: (4) 8
Tries: Khattabi, Murphy

St Helens: (12) 30
Tries: Roby, Gardner 2, Wellens, Clough
Goals: Long 5

Saturday 25 August 2007

Skolars playoff dream ends

A New River crowd boosted by visitors in town for the Challenge Cup Final saw London Skolars fall to a disappointing defeat against playoff rivals York City Knights last night. The defeat ends the Skolars chances of making the National League Two playoffs.

A match report is here.

London Skolars: (0) 0
Tries:
Goals:

York: (16) 34
Lowe 3, Sullivan, Godfrey
Goals: McDonald, Liddell, Esders 5

Friday 24 August 2007

Challenge Cup Final returns to spiritual home

The Rugby League Challenge Cup returns to its spiritual home Wembley Stadium tomorrow afternoon as holders St Helens take on first time finalist Les Catalans Dragons. The match will be the first time rugby league has been played at the new stadium, and brings to a close a break of eight years since the last final took place at the old stadium back in 1999.

This final poses a genuine enigma, the Catalans being the first non-British side to reach the final since it was first contested in 1897. The participation of the French team is even more remarkable given that the club is in only its second season in the top flight Super League competition, and the fact that it only came into existence in 2001 following the merger of Perpignan club sides XIII Catalan and Saint Estève.

The other finalists St Helens have a far more illustrious track record in the competition they won at Twickenham last year; the Saints have lifted the trophy ten times in nineteen previous appearances since they lost the inaugural final to Batley in 1897. St Helens have undoubtedly been the standout team of the Super League era, although whilst they currently top the league table on points difference above Leeds Rhinos they are a side that has show far more vulnerability than the one that swept all before them last season.

The interest in the game’s return to Wembley has resulted in an effective sell-out, with the only issue being the possible take-up of 15,000 Club Wembley seats that have been pre-sold to mainly corporate investors for the next ten year. The logistics of transporting fans from a team in the South of France to North London mean that the Catalans supporters making the journey will be heavily outnumbered by their counterparts from Lancashire, but in true Challenge Cup style the French side are likely to have the lion’s share of the neutral spectators to boost their voices.

On the injury front the Catalans enter the game hoping that former Queensland State of Origin representative Casey McGuire will be fit following a torn pectoral muscle, whilst prop forward Mathieu Griffi may also be back following a layoff. Skipper Jerome Guisset will also return having been rested in last weekend’s defeat at Warrington. The Saints only notable absence is long-term victim Paul Sculthorpe, the former Great Britain captain, with standoff Leon Pryce making his return from a three match ban.

A series of intriguing clashes are expected right across the pitch; the Catalans are noted for their big, physical forward pack, ably led by the vastly experienced Guisset. Former Kiwi prop Alex Chan provides an intimidating presence in the front row, whilst ex-Kangaroo back-row Jason Croker has the experience and all round game to keep the pack ticking over. St Helens will be led by veteran hooker Keiron Cunningham, the sole survivor of Saints 1996 visit to Wembley, and his young apprentice James Roby. Rugged prop Nick Fozzard will be desperate to make an impression having been left out last year, whilst Samoan impact forward Maurie Fa'asavalu is a fearsome weapon to unleash on a tiring defence.

In the backs St Helens arguably have the edge with a back five packed with international experience, notably ex-Kangaroo centre Matt Gidley and current Great Britain fullback Paul Wellens, the reigning Man of Steel. The Dragons standout back is centre Adam Mogg, a State of Origin winner last year with Queensland and one of the leading contenders for this season’s Man of Steel.

But the clash predicted to determine the outcome is between the midfield generals Sean Long and Stacey Jones. The quicksilver Long has already secured his place in Challenge Cup history with a record three Lance Todd Trophy awards, the best British scrumhalf of his generation, he remains a controversial figure within the game due to his erratic contributions to the international scene and a betting scandal three years ago. In contrast Stacey Jones is arguably the second best scrumhalf of the past decade, behind only the great Andrew Johns, the Kiwi legend is the consummate strategist.

Les Catalans Dragons will go into their inaugural final as clear underdogs; with a warm afternoon forecasted it will requite a huge effort to combat the champagne football of St Helens across the wide open spaces of Wembley. So-called “expansion” clubs (it is debateable whether a club from the French rugby league heartlands warrants such a tag) have a patchy record in the show piece event, London Broncos fell to the final’s heaviest ever defeat against Leeds in 1999, but the previous year Sheffield Eagles produced the competitions biggest ever upset downing massive favourites Wigan.

Whatever the result is it is to be hoped that the final produces a match befitting the return of rugby league’s “grand day out in the sun” to its spiritual home.

Skolars kick-off weekend of rugby league

London Skolars this evening look to kick-off a weekend of rugby league in London when they take on York at New River this evening. The Skolars who have been in a rich vein of form lately will be looking to take the points needed to keep alive their National League Two playoff hopes.

Whilst attention may be diverted away from New River tomorrow for the showpiece Challenge Cup Final Sunday will see the return of the annual Middlesex 9s competition, complete with real ale festival.

For more information about tonight’s match, or the Middlesex 9s, click here.

Monday 20 August 2007

Skolars boost playoff hopes in Blackpool

London Skolars boosted their National League Two playoff hopes with a win away at Blackpool Panthers yesterday. The side’s eighth win of the season leaves them in seventh place on the ladder, just one point behind York.

The win caps a remarkable run of eight victories in eleven games since the beginning of July, following a difficult start to the season.

Blackpool Panthers: (4) 20
Tries: Sloman, Stoute 3
Goals: Gambles 2

London Skolars: (22) 34
Tries: Hodgkinson, Barker, Thorman, Shears, Louw, Aggrey
Goals: Thorman 5

Hainault crowned London League Champions

Hainault Bulldogs capped their inaugural season with a 30 – 4 win over Eastern Raiders on Saturday afternoon to pick up the London Amateur Rugby League title (match report here).

In the final of the London League Shield competition Feltham Y.O.I. overcame Kent Ravens II 72 – 10.

The emergence of Hainault and the stregnth of competition in the London League this season is a major sign of encouragement for the RLC Region South competition that has lacked depth in recent years due to sides moving up to the RLC Premier.

Sunday 19 August 2007

Quins drop a point against Wigan

Harlequins RL will feel disappointed today after sharing the points with Wigan Warriors yesterday afternoon, in a game marred by poor officiating. Referee Ben Thaler, who as video referee was at the centre of several controversial decisions against Quins last week, turned in an inconsistent performance that again raises doubt over the success of the RFL’s decision to employ fulltime Super League referees.

It took just four minutes for Thaler’s influence to be felt, ironically missing a clear example of crossing from the Wigan side before compounding the mistake by awarding a penalty against Quins for a one on one ball steal. Wigan fullback Pat Richards wasn’t complaining as he gratefully accepted the two points.

The home side snatched back the lead after a quarter of an hour when second-row Matt Gafa produced a great run to touch down for the Quins. Three minutes later Scott Hill showed his experience to find his way over for the second try and Henry Paul added the conversion to extend the lead to 10 – 2.

It was former Quins halfback Thomas Leuluai who pulled Wigan back into the game just into the second quarter, shrugging off some weak tackles with a powerful run to the line. Richards added the conversion to make it 10 – 8.

On the half hour mark Quins fullback Mark McLinden picked up a controversial try, hooker Chad Randall looked to have knocked on but it was adjudged to have come off a Wigan hand and McLinden was in support to puncture the flat footed Warriors defence. Henry Paul added the conversion, giving the home side a 16 - 8 advantage going into the break.

The second half saw Trent Barrett collect two tries to level the scores at 16 all, but it was the decision of Thaler to disallow a McLinden try for the second week running on the basis of a dubious obstruction call that was to prove crucial to the game. As the half wore on the home crowd became increasingly vocal in their frustrated at the referees apparent unwillingness to keep the visitors on side or to stamp out the frequent holding down in the tackle, but the protestations were in vain.

The final stages saw both sides attempting drop goals to snatch the lead, but none found their mark. It was Quins who arguably squandered the best chances when on successive occasions they shunned opportunities to set-up properly for the one point by running the ball wide in the hope of sneaking a try.

Ultimately a point is of little use to either side, with both now looking outsiders to sneak into a playoff position.

Harlequins RL: (16) 16
Tries: Gafa, Hill, McLinden
Goals: Paul 2

Wigan: (8) 16
Tries: Leuluai, Barrett 2 Goals: Richards 2

St Albans claim RLC Premier South title

St Albans Centurions picked up the 2007 RLC Premier South title yesterday with a hard fought 18 - 10 win against the holding champions South London Storm.

The opening exchanges were a cagey affair, marked by frequent penalties from both sides, St Albans in particular looking rusty after a three-week rest period. So it was no surprise when the Storm put first points on the board through a try from winger Ollie Bloom after eleven minutes. A 40-20 kick from Storm scrumhalf Darren Bartley gave his side the field position to build pressure on the opposition line, before Bloom collected a smart cross field kick from Steve Guan to touch down in the left hand corner.

However, the Storm were to suffer a major setback ten minutes later when influential hooker Luke Bonner picked up a match ending injury attempting to burrow his way over the line.

The Centurions levelled the match on twenty-four minutes when centre Russ Kellaway scored a superb individual try, using some deceptive broken field running to weave his way through the Storm defence.

Storm hit the front again just three minutes from the break when a well-executed passing move saw Bartley deliver the final ball to Paul Bottomley who dove over for the try. Bartley converted to provide a six-point cushion.

The Centurions immediately stepped up the pressure at the other end, and duly earned a penalty for not standing square at the play the ball from the back-peddling Storm defence, providing hooker Richard Smith the opportunity to power his way over under the sticks. Craig Foster added the conversion to send the sides into the break 10 a piece.

The first ten minutes of the second half opened brightly with some end-to-end, free flowing rugby, with both sides dropping the ball in promising positions, before the St Albans side really began to click. Winger Rudi van der Merwe broke free of the Storm defence to race over and end the deadlock. Five minutes later his colleague on the other wing, Ollie Fountain, scored the try of the game with a weaving run through the Storm defence to make it 18 – 10.

At that stage the men from South London looked to be running out of steam, but managed to find a second wind as the game entered its final quarter. Loose forward Mickey Walker looked to have put the game back in contention with a well weighted chip over the Centurions defence on sixty-seven minutes, but the resulting touch down was ruled out by a very harsh offside call.

St Albans dug in and worked their way through the pressure with some solid, percentages rugby league, driving down the middle of the field and turning around South London with some intelligent positional kicking. Five minutes from time Centurions fullback Kristian Warner found himself in the sin-bin for a professional foul on his own ten metre line, but a tiring South London were unable to capitalise on the extra man advantage.

The Centurions will now have a week off before facing Welsh side Bridgend Blue Bulls in Bristol to claim a place in the final of the national competition.

St Albans Centurions: (10) 18
Tries: Kellaway, Smith, van der Merwe, Fountain
Goals: Foster

South London Storm: (10) 10
Tries: Bloom, Bottomley
Goals: Bartley

Saturday 18 August 2007

Double-header at Twickenham Stoop

Rugby league fans are looking forward to a feast of rugby league at The Stoop this afternoon, as St Albans Centurions on South London Storm in the Final of the Rugby League Conference South at 12:40 pm, followed by the Super League game between Harlequins RL and Wigan Warriors at 3:00 pm.

St Albans who finished divisional minor premiers in the RLC Premier South will be slight favourites to overturn reigning champions South London, but a tight game is likely. The Centurions have had several weeks rest since booking their place in the final so should be injury free, if not a little ring rusty. In contrast the Storm only booked their place in the final last week with a victory over third placed London Skolars II on a baking hot afternoon at Storm Park.

In the Super League game both Quins and the Warriors will be desperate to boost their chances of a playoff place with a victory, although both sides are mathematically safe from the drop following Salford’s loss last night, both know that dropped points will be a serious blow to making the top six.

Quins continued their re-signing spree this week, with hooker Chad Randall and loose forward Henry Paul both extending their stay in the capital. On a less positive note it appears that stalwart centre Paul Sykes, the longest serving player at the club, is returning to former club Bradford at the end of the season due to family commitments.

The Quins injury problems show no sign of improving with prop Karl Temata ruled out, whilst Sykes also misses out on compassionate grounds. Youngsters Tony Clubb and Stephen Bannister come back into a side that has lost its last four league games. Wigan in contrast appears to have a virtually full strength squad.

Tuesday 14 August 2007

London ARL Finals: week 2 wrap-up

Hainault Bulldogs will be at home to Eastern Raiders the final of the London ARL competition this weekend.

The Bulldogs beat St Albans Centurions II at home on Saturday 50 –20 to book their place in the final, whilst Eastern Raiders overcame Southgate Skolars 24 – 10 at New River.

Kick-off is at 3 p.m. at The Kenel, Ilford Raiders RFC. See here for details.

Sunday 12 August 2007

Wildcats ease past Quins into top six

Harlequins RL suffered a 28 – 14 reversal away at Wakefield Trinity Wildcats this evening and can rue their luck as a string of dubious decisions swung the result in favour of the home side. The consistency with which controversial decisions went in favour of a solid Wildcats side arguably gave them the momentum with which to build their score, although the Quins only have themselves to blame for the poor handling and decision-making that saw too much possession squandered.

The first dubious decision came courtesy of video referee Ben Thaler after seven minutes when Wakefield standoff Jamie Rooney appeared to push the ball forward over the Quins try line but was given the benefit of the doubt. Mark McLinden subsequently had Quins reply chalked out by Thaler for a very dubious obstruction call.

There were no doubts about Wakefield’s second try from Ryan Atkins on twenty-two minutes, but Paul White’s try ten minutes later was given despite the final ball coming from a telegraphed forward pass ignored by the officials. It was the stroke of half-time before Scott Hill finally got the Quins on the scoreboard with a try in the corner to send the sides in at 14 – 4.

When Quins had a second try chalked out by Thaler after the break for an even more dubious obstruction decision it was clear that this was not to be their night. Fifty-two minutes in Wakefield forward Ned Catic took advantage of some poor play from Quins to pile on the pressure and the visitors looked to be out for the count. However ten minutes later Jon Wells finally found his way over the line, minutes after having a try chalked off in one of the video referee’s few sensible calls of the evening.

Arguably the most controversial moment of the game came after sixty-five minutes when Wakefield prop Ricky Bibey’s forearm smash on standoff Hill left the Quins man dazed with a gashed head that required off field treatment. The incident went unmissed by all the officials, leading to a moment of black humour a couple of minutes later when Julien Rindaldi conceded a penalty for a sloppy high tackle that rode up off the shoulder. It will be interesting to see whether the RFL take a hard line on Bibey given the governing body’s historic inconsistent approach to such offences.

Needing to score points quickly Quins decided to throw the ball around in the final quarter with largely unsuccessful results. Impressive Wakefield centre Atkins added a second try with five minutes to go putting the result beyond any doubt, before Tyrone Smith finally worked his way over for a Quins consolation try in the last minute.

Despite the poor officiating Wakefield proved good value for the win, completing a solid, well drilled performance that capitalised on Quins mistakes. Coach Brian McDermott will be concerned about the amount of possession his side turned over, as well as the injury toll to his already paper thin side which saw skipper Rob Purdham and fellow second-rowers Henry Paul and Lee Hopkins fail to complete the game.

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats: (14) 28
Tries: Rooney, Atkins 2, White, Catic
Goals: Rooney 4

Harlequins RL: (4) 14
Tries: Hill, Wells, Smith
Goals: Orr

Storm blow away Skolars in semi-final

A game of two very different halves saw South London Storm blow away London Skolars II yesterday at Storm Park to book a place in the RLC Premier South final next weekend against St Albans Centurions. A brutal and at times bad tempered game saw the Skolars lack of discipline ultimately cost them the game.

Skolars took an early lead after five minutes when the left wing found himself in space following a poor clearing kick from the Storm. The Storm fullback did well to slowdown the break but was unable to complete the tackle allowing the winger to get up and complete his run into the corner.

It took just three minutes for the Storm to level the scores with Ollie Bloom powering his way over in the opposite corner following a well worked move that saw the ball moved quickly through a series of hands open up a hole in the Skolars defence. Five minutes later Skolars almost regained the lead when a touchdown under the Storm posts from the loose forward was ruled out for a double movement.

It was at this stage of the game that the Skolars discipline started to put them under pressure with a succession of penalties for high shots, flops and niggling play. A quick tap penalty from Storm skipper Al Emerson on eighteen minutes put them back in front, the conversion from Darren Bartley making the score 10 – 4. Minutes later the referees patience with the Skolars underhand tactics finally broke with Todd Egan binned for deliberately interfering at the play the ball. Bartley took almost immediate advantage of the man short in defence to make it 14 – 4.

In the closing ten minutes of the half it looked like the Skolars were finally starting to get their act together, forcing several repeat sets of possession from which they clawed their way back into the game, with two tries and a conversion levelling the scores at 14 a piece. An injury to a Storm player saw the game stopped for several minutes, and when play resumed it was the Skolars who again applied the pressure forcing a knock on just five metres out from the Storm line which gave them the platform to seize a 14 - 18 lead.

The defining moment of the game came as the first half entered a period of injury time; an instinctive trip from Skolars player David Afreh after he was stepped by a Storm player resulted in an instant dismissal. Storm loose forward Mickey Walker crashed over from the penalty and Bartley’s conversion saw the home side head into the break with a 20 – 14 advantage.

The result of Afreh’s dismissal became obvious in the second half as the twelve men of Skolars ran out of steam in the baking afternoon heat. Walker’s forty-fifth minute try effectively sealed the game, as the Skolars lost their composure and stepped up their roughhouse tactics, which only put them under further pressure from the resulting penalties. Four further tries from the Storm followed as the Skolars defence increasingly struggled to fill the holes and the home side exploited the extra space with testing kicks. The Skolars did manage a late consolation try on the stroke of fulltime to leave the final scores at 48 – 24, but it did little to offset the comprehensiveness off the defeat.

Storm are likely to face a much tougher test against minor premiers St Albans when they meet at The Stoop in the curtain raiser to Harlequins RL game against Wigan Warriors. South London fans can take advantage of a special discount offer to see both games by calling Laura Harrison at Quins RL on 020 8410 6098 and quoting "Storm".

South London Storm: (20) 48

London Skolars II: (18) 24

Skolars outclass Thunder at Finchley

London Skolars completed a league double over Gateshead Thunder yesterday, with a 32 – 12 win at Finchley Rugby Club to keep alive their National League Two playoff hopes. The north London based club were forced to play the game away form their usual home at New River Stadium due to an athletics meet but put the hindrance behind them to get the result that leaves them just outside the top six.

A full match report will appear here.

London Skolars: (6) 32
Tries: Aggrey, Shears, Tozer, Lynton, Simms
Goals: Thorman 6

Gateshead Thunder: (8) 12

Tries: Stephenson 2, Peers

Wakefield Vs Harlequins Preview

Harlequins RL go into tonight’s clash with Wakefield Trinity Wildcats knowing that winner will see themselves pushed back into the top six and closer to a coveted playoff spot.

In recent weeks the Quins bandwagon appears to have lost its way, suffering comprehensive defeats against Huddersfield and Leeds as a horrendous run of injuries has taken its toll on Brian McDermott’s already limited squad. The return of influential captain Rob Purdham last week wasn’t enough to halt a rampant Rhinos side, but fans will be hoping he can spark some inspiration against the Wildcats.

The news that wingers Rikki Sheriffe and Matt Gafa and forwards Karl Temata and Jon Grayshon have re-signed for next season has been welcomed by fans, but is tempered by the decision of warhorse second-row Lee Hopkins to retire at the end of the season. All five players have been important in shouldering the burden of the injury crisis.

Wakefield go into the game on the back of a defeat against Bradford, an early season run of form eventually turned patchy and when the two sides met at The Stoop back in April the result was a draw. Coach John Kear has rebuilt much of his side this season, converting the Wildcats from a side heavily reliant of imports to one that has made greater use of home grown players and has consequently seen them lift from a side that only beat the drop on the final game of last season to one challenging for the playoffs.


The game will be a big challenge for the Quins, but if they are to be serious challengers for the playoffs, and to prove to Chairman Ian Lenagan who has been linked to a bid for the Wigan Warriors that the club is moving forward, it’s one they need to win.

Wednesday 8 August 2007

Storm awaits Skolars

The results of last weekend’s RLC Premier games between South London Storm and Kingston Warriors (see here for report) and Kent Ravens and London Skolars II saw the Strom confirm home advantage for this weekend’s semi-final clash with Skolars.

Reigning RLC champions South London Storm are likely to be marginal favourites for the game given home advantage, but only finished above Skolars on points difference in the regular rounds. The Storm have found life harder in this year’s competition following their all conquering run in 2006, the departure of head coach to Rob Powell to the assistant coach position at Harlequins RL and the loss of several influential players including Tani Kingi, Mark Nesbitt, Andy Hames and Todd Brandon, weakening the side.

In contrast to the Storm’s own internal challenges 2007 also proved to be a landmark year in competitiveness of the RLC Premier South, with the decision of St Albans Centurions to drop down from last season’s National League Three competition giving the division a new powerhouse club.

London Skolars II, who previously competed as the Skolars development side under the moniker Haringey Hornets, also seem to have benefited from closer links to their senior side. Many of the players currently playing in the RLC Premier side have significant experience playing and National League Two level.

Storm vs Skolars will kick-off at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday 11th at Storm Park, Thornton Heath, see here for more details.

Tuesday 7 August 2007

London ARL Finals: week 1 wrap-up

Reigning London ARL champions South London Storm II were knocked out of the competition at the weekend by St Albans Centurions II.

The Centurions will travel to Hainault Bulldogs this weekend for the first semi-final, Hainault qualify as London ARL minor premiers, a remarkable result in their debut season.

The second semi-final will see third placed Eastern Raiders travel to second placed Southgate Skolars (a joint venture between London Skolars and Southgate College).

Both quarter finals will be played on Saturday 11th August, for venues and times see club websites or London ARL website.

Greenwich fall to the Roosters

Greenwich Admirals defeat by Cambridgeshire side St Ives Roosters at the weekend ended the capital’s involvement in the Rugby League Conference Eastern Division. The Roosters will now go onto play division topping Bedford Tigers in the regional final this coming weekend to progress into the national finals series.

A match report can be found here.

More details of the game between Bedford and St Ives can be found here.

London Skolars clash moved

London Skolars National League Two home game against Gateshead Thunder this coming Saturday has been switched to Finchley Rugby Club to accommodate an athletics meeting at usual home New River Stadium.

More information can be found
here.

Monday 6 August 2007

Skolars swoop on Hawks

London Skolars continued their recent run of good form with a 6 – 32 away win at Hunslet Hawks yesterday. The victory keeps alive their slim hopes of achieving a playoff spot, although realistically their slow start to the season makes such a prospect unlikely.

A match report can be found here.

Hunslet Hawks: (6) 6
Tries: Bravo
Goals: Robinson

London Skolars: (10) 32
Tries: Nowland 3, Hodgkinson, Webster
Goals: Thorman 5, Lynton

Quins wilt in the midday heat

Harlequins RL produced two starkly contrasting performances either side of the half-time break yesterday as they fell to a rampant Leeds Rhinos sides in the baking heat of The Stoop.

Quins started brightly with a Paul Sykes try after ten minutes, only to see the lead cancelled by Jamie Thackray’s trampling run ten minutes later. Consistent pressure from the home side saw the Rhinos give away a string of penalties which ultimately resulted in the sin binning of fullback Brent Webb on twenty-five minutes for three high tackles in less than ten minutes. The card came too late for many who felt that Webb deserved a full red for the first and worst of the three high shots which typified the niggling performance of the Rhino’s in the opening period.

With Leeds down a man Quins quickly capitalised on the advantage with Scott Hill, providing one of his better performances this season, squeezing over for a try, closely followed by Mark McLinden whose weaving run finished off a good passage of open play. Two conversions from Sykes took the home side into the break with a well deserved 16 – 6 lead.

It was after the break that things started to go wrong for Quins, a series of unforced errors and poor ball control placed them under unnecessary pressure, whilst Leeds cleaned up their own act. Eight minutes into the second half Webb took the chance to redeem himself with the try that sparked the visitors’ revival, his effort closely followed by one from Jordan Tansey to put the Rhinos back in front. Quins fans new it wasn’t to be their afternoon when referee Phil Bentham was conned into giving a penalty for a non-existent ball steal on fifty-five minutes, with Kevin Sinfield touching down from the resulting position.

From that point onwards the game was a one sided affair, characterized by Leeds capacity to strike from deep. The Quins had no answer to the Rhinos speed and the quality of their support play, Gareth Ellis, Scott Donald, and Jamie Peacock all adding tries. A seventy-fifth minute try from Danny Orr, briefly interrupted the flow of traffic, but that’s all it was as Danny McGuire replied immediately followed by a second try from Webb in the final minute.

Ultimately the game highlighted the difference in depth between the two sides, in particular a Leeds pack featuring no less than five full Great Britain internationals up against a Quins forward line down to just two regular prop forwards and a winger filling in at second-row. However, coach Brian McDermott will have identified elements of the performance in both halves for attention before next Sunday’s away game at Wakefield.

Harlequins RL: (16) 20
Tries: Sykes, Hill, McLinden, Orr
Goals: Sykes 2

Leeds: (6) 54
Tries: Thackray, Webb 2, Tansey, Ellis, Sinfield, Donald, Peacock, McGuire
Goals: Sinfield 7, Tansey 2

Saturday 4 August 2007

Skolars win but fail to spoil Ravens party

A party atmosphere descended on Princes Park, Dartford, last night as the Kent Ravens Rugby League team made their inaugural appearance at the new state of the art stadium. A crowd of around 500 were entertained by a full-blooded and at times frenetic Rugby League Conference Premier clash between the Ravens and visitors London Skolars.

The nerves of the Ravens players were palpable as the opening kick sailed out on the full and the Skolars used the resulting penalty to put them under early pressure. The Skolars almost capitalised immediately with the standoff’s clever dinking kick along the ground into the corner proving just too deep for the impressive speedster on the right wing.

The Ravens then took their chance to attack and a scoot from the play the ball by the fullback caught out the Skolars defence who resorted to giving away a penalty for holding down. The Kent side built on the possession to work the ball across the field, with forward Steve Scanlan showing great strength to bulldoze over the line and write a little piece of history with the first try at Princes Park four minutes in to the game. The Ravens lead lasted just three minutes, the Skolars right winger finding a gap out wide with his own scooting run into the corner to level the scores.

It was twenty minutes before the next score was to arrive, the Skolars kept the ball alive with some ambitious offloads which saw them eventually crash over close to the sticks. Skipper Kurt Pittman added the conversion to give his side a 6-point lead. This was the sign that the men from New River were to hit their first purple patch of the game, two minutes later a break and clever pass from the standoff found the fullback running an intelligent line to touch down beneath the sticks. A brave rally from the Ravens required some gutsy try line defence to deny them before the Skolars pulled out a long range move down the left hand touchline to find themselves under the sticks again.

The closing ten minutes of the first-half were to be a showcase for the Skolars right centre-wing partnership, first a break down the right hand flank saw the winger push the ball back inside as he was dragged into touch to put his centre in, then three minutes later the centre reciprocated with a long looping pass to send his winger into the corner following a well worked move orchestrated by the scrumhalf.

Despite some tired the legs, the Ravens remained committed and their persistence was rewarded with a second try when Daniel Smart smashed his way over on thirty nine minutes, with Thomas Claridge adding on the conversion to send the sides in to the break at 10 – 30.

The first five minutes of the second half saw both teams step up in attack, with both bombing gilt-edged chances with dropped balls under the challenge of some brutal, bone crunching defence. However, it took just eight minutes before the Skolars right centre found a way through some flat defence to stride away into the corner for the first try of the second half.

The Ravens again rallied and put the visitors under the most concerted period of pressure in the whole game. The home sides won themselves a series of back to back sets via a goal line dropout and a penalty for holding down, but despite being virtually camped on the opposition line they could find no way through. At times the scenes were almost slapstick as the Skolars defenders hurled themselves in front of the Ravens juggernaut in desperate, last ditch attempts to hold the line.

The Skolars finally broke the Ravens resolve on the hour mark, a solid set of six in attack punched them down the field and a drive over from close range extended the lead to 10 – 38. A minute later the standoff latched on to an offload thirty metres out to jink his way over and the floodgates had opened as the Skolars entered their second purple patch of the game. Three more tries followed in close succession as the visitors took advantage of some tiring defence on the Ravens left hand flank, before the right wing broke on the opposite side to feed the fullback for the final try on seventy five minutes.

To their credit the Ravens refused to let their heads go down and continued to take the fight to the Skolars to the very end, earning a standing ovation off the field from the vociferous partisan crowd. Ultimately it was the greater experience of the Skolars, many with experience in National League Two, which made the difference. The Skolars were quicker to get the second and third man to the tackle, showed more awareness in their support running and slicker handling of the ball in particular the crisp distribution of hooker Kurt Pittman from the play the ball.

Kent Ravens have come along way in the last three years and despite what the score line may suggest the side have great potential that will develop as they progress along their own learning curve. In Princes Park the Ravens have a stadium to be proud of and in Kent Ravens the town of Dartford has a rugby league side to be proud of.

Kent Ravens: (10) 10
London Skolars: (30) 68

Wednesday 1 August 2007

Speculation mounts over Lenagan bid for Wigan Warriors

Reports that Wigan RLFC major shareholder Dave Whelan is considering offloading his stake in the club has led to speculation that a consortium led by current Harlequins RL Chairman and majority shareholder Ian Lenagan is one of two contenders vying to gain control of the Super League club.

Whelan, who also controls Wigan Athletic Football Club and the JJB Stadium which both clubs share, is understood to be interested in selling following a series of events that have seen the club punished for breaching the Super League salary cap two years in succession, the team underachieve on the pitch and the decision of Chairman Maurice Lindsay to retire at the end of the season having increasingly become the target of criticism from fans.

Lenagan, a successful businessman and theatre entrepreneur born and raised in Wigan, has yet to confirm or deny any interest, but is reported as retaining both close links to his hometown and a lifelong support for the Wigan club

Should Lenagan acquire control of the Wigan club it would undoubtedly cast doubts on the long-term future of Harlequins RL, the London based club he took control of in 2005. It was Lenagan who was the driving force behind the London club’s partnership with the Harlequins rugby union club which saw the rugby league club relocate to The Twickenham Stoop and re-brand from their previous incarnation as London Broncos.

Many fans of Harlequins RL understandably appear to be concerned at this development, although it’s far from clear whether Lenagan would be forced to offload his stake in their club following the acquisition of any stake in Wigan RLFC. Without Lenegan Harlequins RL may be forced to look for new investors, or alternatively look towards their partners Harlequins RU for support.

The other candidate for Whelan’s stake in the club is understood to be Chorley born millionaire Trevor Hemmings, the owner of Littlewoods Pools and Blackpool Tower, who already has several sporting interests including the majority shareholding of Championship football club Preston North End.