London Skolars 16 Newcastle Thunder 60: Skolars fail to quieten Thunder in Betfred League One clash

London Skolars suffered a chastening defeat in their first home game of the Betfred League One season, going down 60-16 to Newcastle Thunder.

Thunder took the lead early on when Liam McAvoy wriggled his way past the defence on the tryline.

Three young Wigan Warriors players were making their Skolars’ debut on dual registration and two of them combined to score the home side’s first try.

Newcastle waited for Josh Ganson’s kick into the in-goal area to run out of play, but Callum Field dashed past the defence to touch down inches from the line.

Three minutes the other member of the trio, Craig Mullen, came into the line on the right to split the Thunder defence, Neil Thorman adding his second conversion.

Newcastle levelled the scores when Lewis Young took a short pass at sped to score under the posts.

Lameck Juma of Skolars and Thunder’s Evan Simons were then yellow carded for fighting.

Newcastle took advantage of a gap in the defensive line, passing the ball quickly to the left for Tuoyo Egodo to put the visitors into the lead.

Two minutes later Omari Caro was sin-binned for tripping, more a careless tackle than an intentional act.

Thunder pounced with Young making a jinking run to the line just before half time.

By the time both sides were back to 13, Newcastle had scored two more tries through Mo Agoro and Tom Shaw.

The onslaught continued when Tee Ritson dodged his way past the defence to score, before Ben Pointer scored against his old club going over from dummy half.

Thunder passed the half-century when Aaron Ollett went over unopposed on the left.

There was a consolation try for Skolars when Charlie Lawrence kicked the ball to the right where Mullen did well to pass to Billy Driver, who scored in the corner.

However, the last word went to Newcastle, with Ryan Lloyd running in his team’s 10th try.

Skolars are without a game this weekend, but return to action in the league on March 24 when they play host to Workington Town at the New River Stadium.