Co-Operative Championship.

Oldham 28 - London Skolars 22.

LONDON Skolars nearly pulled off a shock victory against promotion chasing Oldham in front of the Sky cameras.

But having led for most of the game, three tries in the last eight minutes denied them victory.

Whilst Skolars were playing live on Sky for the first time it was Oldham who looked the more nervous in the early stages and Skolars capitalised on the errors.

After Paul Thorman had gone close, Gareth Honor forced his way over the line. Thorman nearly set up a second with a kick to the corner, but Oliver Fountain couldn’t quite keep hold of the high ball.

Oldham got onto the scoreboard after Skolars had conceded two penalties in quick succession. Then came a first in a Skolars’ game, as a try was decided by the video referee, who adjudged Martin Roden had just grounded the ball amidst the clutches of three Skolars’ defenders.

Frenchman Cedric Prizon made a strong debut but was sinbinned for fighting along with an Oldham player midway through the half.

Oldham couldn’t make further inroads with the Skolars’ defence remaining resolute, in particular the outstanding Oliver Bloom and Tony Williams.

Olu Iwenofu nearly scored, but was dragged into touch just short of the tryline.

Thorman narrowly missed a penalty from 40 metres out just before half-time, but Skolars went in 6-4, with the Boundary Park crowd almost silent.

Skolars went further ahead soon after the break, when Fountain had picked up a loose ball and Jy-Mel Coleman slipped the ball to John Paxton.

But Skolars’ defence was not alert when they allowed Matty Ashe to return a ball almost unopposed from a goal-line drop out to reduce the gap to two points.

Matt Thomas showed his pace and power for his eleventh try of the season and after Fountain had intercepted an Oldham pass, Thorman took a penalty to make the score 10-20 to Skolars on the hour.

Jamie Russo started the Lancastrians’ fightback, going over in the left corner after an error.

Thorman kicked another penalty, and Skolars were forced to defend for the last ten minutes.

Man-of-the-match Honor raced to a Oldham kick through before the attack, but when Craig Littler scored in the right corner, the home side were just two points adrift.

The last five minutes were agonising for Skolars, as first Thomas Coyle darted though the defence to put Oldham ahead and then Lee Greenwood touched down with the last move of the game.

Skolars travel to York this Sunday with a 2pm kick-off.

LONDON SKOLARS: 2 Corey Simms, 26 Olu Owenofu, 30 John Paxton, 11 Matt Thomas, 3 Oliver Fountain, 17 Chad Isles, 7 Paul Thorman, 16 Tony Williams, 9 Gareth Honor, 32 Cedric Prizon, 4 Oliver Bloom, 31 Kris Hodson, 19 Leigh Nissen.

Subs (all used): 14 Graeme Spencer, 29 Jy-Mel Coleman, 23 Andre Vine, 22 Danny Burke.

Tries: Honor (5), Paxton (46), Thomas (54).

Goals: Thorman 5/6.

Penalty count: 10-11.

Half-time: 4-6.

Referee: Greg Dolan.