Match Report

  S London II 26-29 Southgate 

12/05/07 (Courtesy of South London Storm)

South London Storm II finished their second game of the season on the losing side against the Southgate Skolars but with a much improved performance than against the Griffins two weeks ago. Southgate Skolars are made up in the majority by Southgate College students and the London Skolars Academy. Storm knew that this would give their fitness a real test, especially at the end, but they showed the edge that was lacking against the Griffins and that their fitness was much improved.

 

Storm started the strongest of the two with the forwards taking control of the game and Chris Bevan and debutants Jeff Dale and Nicholas Unanue controlling from the pivotal positions. In blustery conditions the short game of Storm came to the fore and the pressure they applied to the Skolars line paid off after seven minutes as Man of the Match Unanue sniped around the play the ball for the first try. Southgate were not to be downhearted and battled right back for a try themselves and with the wind picking up the kicking game would become all important. Their conversion giving them a lead by 6-4.

 

Storm knew they needed to gain advantage and a good points lead to negate the Skolars fitness late on and they started to pile on the points with three quick tries in 15 minutes. First Chris Bevan dummied his way over the line, the conversion this time successful from Rich Pitchfork. Then Unanue got his second in similar circumstances around the play-the-ball before Bevan’s inside ball gave Pitchfork only two men to beat for his score, and an 18-6 lead. Southgate crucially got 2 late second half tries to go into the break just 2 points behind.

 

The second half was a true arm wrestle with the lead changing three times and Storm getting close through Paul Davies and Owen Eckersley and Cormac Lomasney on a number of occasions. Southgate though took the lead early on before Bobby Harker found a gap in the Southgate defence to go over. Southgate scored again with a long range try to lead 22-28.

 

Cam Paul then scored his first try of the season with a trade mark bulldozer run through the middle but with the wind again picking up the conversion was leaving the score at a tantalising 26-28. Southgate then found the wind against them as they missed a late penalty before a last second drop goal secured the points.