London Skolars 22-66 Hunslet RLFC
Adam Ryder scored four tries as Hunslet effectively put the game to bed in the first quarter against London Skolars at the New River Stadium yesterday (18 March 2023).
Leading 0-26 on 20 minutes the game was over and although the Skolars restored some pride in the second period Hunslet jumped to second in the Betfred League 1 table.
The visit to the capital got off to a great start as Hallas and Knowles combined to enable Josh Jordan-Roberts the room to score on only the 3rd minute 0-4.
Relentless Hunslet pressure after a Nathan Conroy bomb and some quick passing meant Adam Ryder had space to run and on only the 9th minute Ryder’s try converted by Sweeting gave the Parksiders a 0-10 lead.
Rarely did Hunslet have to defend and when they did they wrapped up their opponents, and after another Adam Ryder run Michael Knowles added the third Hunslet try of the afternoon. 0-14
It looked as though it would be a landslide as Sam Hallas finished off a Nathan Conroy break to stretch the score to 0-20 on only the 16th minute.
Ryder is already a big presence in this Hunslet side and added two more tries before the half hour mark to complete a hattrick. The first came from a Sam Hallas/Jimmy Watson combination with Ryder steaming through the full-back, the other from a Nathan Conroy break and smart ball giving Ryder a simple run to the line. 0-32
Joe Burton was also causing havoc in the left centre, his break sent Jimmy Watson through but the full-back was caught.
It shows how important Hunslet’s front row of Steve Crossley, Sam Hallas and Harvey Hallas is as when they came off to recharge their batteries London managed a try from close in through Aaron Small (with Jack Ryan converting).
But a Hunslet penalty after the hooter had sounded stretched the Parksiders lead to 6-34 and it looked like a cricket score was on the cards.
Hunslet had only conceded 4 points in the second half of their last three games, but a renewed Skolars came out to give it their all.
Kicking out on the full from the off didn’t help, but on the Skolars last tackle the ball was thrown about close to the touch line with abandon before Christian Gale touched down even though there was a hint of a forward pass. 12-34
Hunslet hit back immediately as a Harvey Hallas ball sent Conroy through before Steve Crossley finished and then Conroy himself finished off an Aaron York break. 12-46
Adam Ryder notched up his fourth after Jake Sweeting’s kick was spilt, but Skolars hit back with two tries from kicks that would have disappointed Coach Alan Kilshaw. Both came from unthreatening kicks not cleared up and both were scored by Louis O’Sullivan 22-50 on 73 minutes.
With the shine taken off the performance Hunslet needed to finish strongly and did so with three tries in the final minutes. Harvey Hallas and Jake Sweeting combined to send Jamie Greenwood over before Sweeting himself finished off a move started by a Joe Burton break.
Sweeting left himself an easy conversion after having an up and down afternoon with the boot. 22-60
Hunslet again scored after the hooter when quick passing to the right gave Adam Ryder a chance for a fifth try, but the big centre instead fed Jack Render who rounded on the posts to make the full time score 22-66.
Adam Ryder was voted the Hunslet Parkside Ex-players Association Man of the Match by his teammates, but there were also strong performances from Sam Hallas, Michael Knowles, Harvey Hallas and Nathan Conroy, as well as a lively debut by winger Alfie Goddard who put in a shift and took some stopping.
Coach Alan Kilshaw will be disappointed his side leaked a few sloppy tries in the second half but a 22-66 away win cannot be sniffed at, and although after Sunday’s games Hunslet have slipped to third in the league they look in good form for their next match, a big derby away at Dewsbury Rams on Good Friday (7 April 2023).
Teams
Hunslet RLFC: Jimmy Watson, Jack Render, Adam Ryder, Joe Burton, Alfie Goddard, Jake Sweeting, Nathan Conroy, Harvey Hallas, Sam Hallas, SteveCrossley, Josh Jordan-Roberts, Jordan Syme, Mike Knowles. Interchanges: Jamie Greenwood, Aaron York, Liam Carr, Jordan Bull. 18th man: Brad Wheeler.
London Skolars: Jacob Thomas, Louis O’Sullivan, Dan Bristow, Aaron Small, Jerome Yates, Alex Deery, Jack Ryan, Lamont Bryan, Doug Chirnside, Todd Peut, Luciano Bejanidze, Jimmy Morgan, Liam O’Callaghan. Interchanges: Shane Lee, Anthony Cox, Mal Lloyd-Jones, Christian Gale. 18th man: Ed Brown.
Referee: Luke Bland
Photo: Adam Ryder celebrates scoring against Keighley last week (Craig Irvine)
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