London Skolars 16 Limoux Grizzlies 42 (From Haringey Independent)

London Skolars 16 Limoux Grizzlies 42

10:57am Tuesday 9th March 2010 in

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Carnegie Challenge Cup Third Round . . .

SKOLARS worked hard against a strong Limoux side, but couldn’t complete in the second half against a team that played with typical Gallic flair.

Limoux reached the semi-final of the French cup last weekend and started in decisive fashion with their two prop forwards combining in attack, with the powerful Aaron Wood, to open the scoring. Jermaine Coleman put in a fine tackle to stop wingman Stephane Selles, but conceded a penalty soon afterwards and Mathieu Mayans used his strength to crash through the defence.

Skolars bounced straight back into the game after they forced an error from the kick off, then earned the ninth penalty of a game barely into its 20th minute. At that stage Skolars had already taken two tap penalties without being able to turn them into points. This time, however, they were successful and Gareth Honor slipped under the defence from dummy half to score.

Skolars started to get into the game more with Curtis Cunningham making some incisive running from full-back. The penalty count started to mount in the game and the tie looked to be reaching boiling point when substitute Thibault Bracconier was sin-binned for a punch 10 seconds after coming on to the field. Skolars took advantage of the extra man and put pressure on the Limoux line, forcing a drop-out. The ball return saw the ball moved first to the left when Ade Adebisi’s quick thinking pushed the ball out before he was bundled into touch, then across to the right for Cunningham to score. Paul Thorman’s conversion put Skolars into the lead.

They had an excellent chance to further that lead soon afterwards, a Coleman break was continued by Matt Carter, but the second rower’s long pass to Ade Adebisi was just forward. Limoux punished that error straight away with Philip Ramage’s dummy creating a gap for him to put Sam Key through.

Ramage’s conversion gave the Grizzlies a four point lead at the break and they extended that lead after half-time when Shead finished off a good passing move which saw the ball move right along the line.

With Jermaine Coleman lying injured on the ground, Limoux extended their lead when Mayans scored his second try, following up on a deep kick, he kicked on again, beating the defence to the ball. Key then added his second try soon afterwards, followed by Casal Joris who raced to Ramage’s kick after a Mayans’ break.

Skolars were also keen to move the ball out to the flanks, with Matt Thomas scoring after a Matt Carter break, but Limoux had the final say with a break from Wood and a deft flick pass to Ramage who finished off and also converted his fifth goal of the game.

Coach James Massara now has the task of raising his side’s spirits ready for a re-arranged midweek Northern Rail Cup game at York on Wednesday night, which is followed by a home Championship 1 game against Swinton Lions on Sunday with a 3pm kick-off.