Match Report
Hainault
II 40-4 Southgate
- 01/05/08 (Courtesy of Southgate Skolars)
A very young Southgate Skolars side
lost 40-4 at Hainault Bulldogs on Thursday night in their first game of the new
London ARL season. With 15 of the 17 being 16-19 year old students (plus Chris
Appleton and Carl Fortu) Southgate were up against a much older and stronger
Hainault pack. Physically the Skolars could not cope and conceded a series of
first half tries without threatening Hainault throughout a dismal first half,
with winger Smokie Junor lasting only four minutes before an ankle injury forced
him off.
Facing a humiliating defeat, Southgate dug deep and responded superbly after the
break, keeping Hainault at bay for long periods of the half, conceding three
tries but building attacks and causing the home side problems on several
occasions.
They were rewarded for that effort in the last minute when Chris Tipple - heroic
in defence all night out on the left - managed to touch down a grubber kick to
make it 4-40.
Man of the match was loose forward Carl Fortu who tackled like a demon for 80
minutes, closely followed by stand-off Jamie Lynch and Tipple. Prop Leeson
Sinclair also impressed on his return after several months and Darren Luxford
and Ross Hann repeatedly tackled men twice their size and weight.