Panthers make Capital Gains

London Skolars RLFC 28 Blackpool Panthers RLFC 36

Blackpool Panthers given the rare luxury of an overnight stay in preparation for an away game, rewarded the generosity of the Club Directors with a comfortable victory in the capital by completing the double over London Skolars with a 36-28 victory. This victory lifted the Panthers to unknown heights and their final league placing of ninth is the highest in their short history.

When the two sides with the worst defensive records in Rugby League meet a try feast is always on the cards, and the Panthers outscored their rivals by seven tries to five to ease to victory. The Panthers repelled a couple of early surges from the hosts and scored with their first serious attack. Full back John Leather spotting a gap in the defence and from the halfway line romped over for his 12th try of the season making him the club’s leading try scorer. Leather just pipped winger Damien Munro in the scoring stakes and it was Munro who collected a towering kick from Simon Svavic to score his 11th try of the season shortly afterwards. Chris Forster was unable to convert either to lead 8-0.

The hosts came back almost straight away and Corey Simms powered over to be converted by the impeccable Paul Thorburn to reduce the arrears to 8-6. The Panthers then had a purple patch where they were camped on the home line for long periods and both Darryl Kaye and Martin Keaveney scored from short range to give the Panthers a 20-6 lead as the interval approached. Right on the half time hooter the Skolars reduced the arrears with a try close to the posts by Mark Meredith who was possibly the best player on the field, after fine work by the back division. Thorburn converted to make the interval lead 20-12.

This late score rejuvenated the hosts and shortly after the interval the impressive Fijian prop forward Rasaubule powered over far out on the right to reduce the gap to 20-18 with Thorburn converting. The Panthers pressed forward again and Jon Clough finished off a slick handling move to score wide out, Forsters conversion came back off the upright to leave the score at 24-18 London then applied a period of pressure but lost the ball 10 yards from the Panthers line and winger John Gillam picked up the loose ball to race fully 90 yards with defenders trailing in his wake to score under the posts. Forster converted to make the score 30-18.

In this end to end game London were again on the score sheet with the only disputed try in the whole game. London knocked on and ball was picked up by a player in an offside position and then a pass that looked yards forward was touched down by Stuart Gibbons again converted by the boot of Thorburn from the touchline to keep the hosts in sight at 30-24. Almost immediately Panthers prop Andy March collected a pass 20 yards out to power over under the posts, Forster’s conversion took the lead to 36-24. There was still time for London to secure a bonus point with an unconverted try by Austin Aggrey to reduce the arrears to 36-28.

Panthers team.
Leather, Gillam, Llewllyn, Killgannon, Munro, Svavic, Forster, Marsh, Clough, Warriner, Barton, Ratcliffe, Alker.

Subs (all used), Keaveney, Kaye, Lawton and Boland.