London Skolars face season opener against Scorpions (From Haringey Independent)

London Skolars to face South Wales Scorpions in season opener

2:57pm Thursday 28th February 2013 in Sport

London Skolars get their season underway this Sunday when the first Northern Rail Cup group matches take place.

Skolars start their campaign with a trip to Neath to take on South Wales Scorpions.

The two teams met in the competition last season when Skolars edged a close encounter 38-30 at the Gnoll. Skolars went on to record two league victories against the Welsh outfit, which included an emphatic 64-6 home win.

This season sees the introduction of a different competition format with the winners of the Northern and Southern groups progressing to a knockout stage in May, when the Championship teams join the competition.

Skolars head coach Joe Mbu has been busy in the close season adding some new signings to the squad and will be looking for his team to get off to a flying start with the Kingstone Press Championship One season only a month away. A number of London Broncos players have signed dual registration forms with the club and it is hoped that some will feature on Sunday.

Their first home game is on Sunday, March 10 when they host Hemel Stags. The Skolars have designated the match a ‘Family day’ with a variety of events happening including a mini real ale festival and a half-time mascot race.

General manager Howard Kramer said: “This is a game that should capture the imaginations of rugby league fans in and around the capital. We’ve had a great response to our early bird half-price ticket offer and fans have been snapping up tickets online prior to the close of the ticket deal deadline this Friday.”

The side will conclude their Northern Rail Cup group matches with games at home to University of Gloucestershire All Golds and away to Rochdale. The league season gets underway at the end of the month when Hemel Stags are once again the visitors to New River.

Information on the forthcoming Hemel Stags match can be found at www.skolarsrl.com.