By Richard Griffin @richardpgriffi1
Three quarters of the way through the season and time for a stock take.
New Era?
Let’s start with the league it self. One consequence of the so-called “new era” reforms was that League One expanded to accommodate relegated Championship teams like Barrow and Swinton and newbies Coventry. The reality four months is that we really have two leagues. Look at the L1 table. With the exception of North Wales Crusaders the top half is dominated by heartland teams and the bottom by expansion clubs with (perhaps appropriately) Newcastle bang in the middle (I thought they would have done better this season). Skolars are not the only club that has been hammered on more than one occasion by clubs like Swinton. This has revitalized the debate about having a northern and southern league. The only argument that I have found against is that it is some how romantic to have the opportunity to play heartland teams. It is not. Too often it is humiliating and a poor spectacle. This is not making an excuse for Skolar’s poor performance on occasions but lack of access to facilities, pools of players and young and DR players means most non heartland clubs are playing with one arm tied behind their back. Note that clubs like Skolars get gates as big (if you can describe a few hundred people as big) as Oldham or Rochdale or York.
Rumour has it that L1 will be changed again so here is a suggestion – split the league north and south. Add a couple of new teams to the south like Medway or Bristol and you have two leagues of eight (you could keep the L1 Cup including the top amateur teams including all 16 teams). At the end of the season the top four of each could play for promotion. Less costs, less travel, more competitive games and something to play for. The play offs keep the links between the north and south. Mind you with the prospect of Toulouse and a Canadian team potentially joining L1 next year, goodness knows what will happen.
Excuse for poor season 1 – “lack of regular access to DR players”
New River
When Skolars played South Wales in June Mike Grady kept his team on the pitch at half time. Originally I thought this might have been one of those sporting psychological thingies coaches like to do to rev their team up (the Scorpions did win after all). On reflection I suspect it was more the fact that the concrete terraces that run around the pitch and running track were considerably more comfortable than the make shift changing rooms available at New River. When it is finished New River promises to be a cracking facility but at the moment it isn’t. No club house, a porta loo, programmes sold on a trestle table – not a great match day experience (although it could be worse at least it is better than Oldham’s ground and we are not like the poor York fans who do not know where they are playing from one week to the next (a pretty normal experience each season for Bronco fans though)). The 4G pitch is though a major improvement on the mire and mud pit the used to pass for a playing surface.
Excuse for poor season 2 – “lack of proper facilities”
New coach
Following a devastating 4-86 defeat against Swinton in the Challenge Cup, the club let Joe Mbu go. Quite often club press releases in these circumstances are trite, Skolars’ was I think heartfelt – “The Board wanted to give their thanks for the 5 years Joe has been part of the coaching team and as a former junior at the club he is arguably London’s most successful home grown player and coach. A gentleman and Skolar through and through.” Hector McNeil said it was the hardest professional decision he had had to make. Former Skolar player and Hemel Assistant Coach Jermaine Coleman was quickly appointed. With a few blips (the South Wales home game stands out) Coleman has stabilized things and we have come close in a few games not least North Wales away and of course yet again managed to beat local rivals Hemel. We manage to contain stronger teams to respectable scores. Coleman has proved an asset on the pitch too particularly his kicking game. One thing that does need sorting is the A team which appears to have fallen apart or disappeared. In contrast the mini’s/juniors seem to go from strength and strength and the link up with Barnet College could pay dividends in the future.
Excuse for poor season 3 – “it takes time for a new coach to settle in”
The game
This has not been the season Skolars fans had hoped for. Despite the results (and the long walk to the portaloo), though most fans have kept coming. Performances have improved particularly in defence but we still, like last season make too many mistakes – many I have noticed right at the start of the game such as against All Golds. Too often we seem to put pressure on ourselves when we do not need too. There also seems to be a lack the edge in attack. Interestingly we have conceded fewer tries than the four clubs above us in L1 but scored considerably fewer points. The key now is to ensure that the rest of the season sees some solid performances and wins. Two seasons ago we were pushing for promotion. This season I am glad we are not bottom.
Excuse for poor season 4 – “look it just takes time”
Danny Jones
On 3 May I headed off to watch Skolars play Keighley. Tragically within twenty minutes of kick off the game was halted and then abandoned as first both team’s medical staff and then the emergency services did what they could to save Danny Jones. Tragically despite all their best efforts they failed. It was truly shocking. The response by rugby league fans and clubs and many others has been magnificent – with over £225,000 being donated to support his widow and two young daughters (you can still donate by the way - https://www.justgiving.com/dannyjones29).
Note from the editor: (Henry Taylor @HTaylor2013)
London Skolars play fellow expansion rivals Oxford this Sunday at New River. KO at 3pm and with no Broncos game this week, as many broncos fans should go and cheer them on as they look for their first 2015 home win,backing up their 3rd win away at the all golds last Saturday winning 34-12 which was their best performance of the season with stand out performances by Broncos-produced back rowers Lamont Bryan and Will Lovell (Skolars consider them some of the best back rowers in the competition) and Broncos-produced hooker/half Mike Bishay.
Tickets are just £12 adults and £6 concessions which can be bought on the day or online at www.skolarsrl.com.
Three quarters of the way through the season and time for a stock take.
New Era?
Let’s start with the league it self. One consequence of the so-called “new era” reforms was that League One expanded to accommodate relegated Championship teams like Barrow and Swinton and newbies Coventry. The reality four months is that we really have two leagues. Look at the L1 table. With the exception of North Wales Crusaders the top half is dominated by heartland teams and the bottom by expansion clubs with (perhaps appropriately) Newcastle bang in the middle (I thought they would have done better this season). Skolars are not the only club that has been hammered on more than one occasion by clubs like Swinton. This has revitalized the debate about having a northern and southern league. The only argument that I have found against is that it is some how romantic to have the opportunity to play heartland teams. It is not. Too often it is humiliating and a poor spectacle. This is not making an excuse for Skolar’s poor performance on occasions but lack of access to facilities, pools of players and young and DR players means most non heartland clubs are playing with one arm tied behind their back. Note that clubs like Skolars get gates as big (if you can describe a few hundred people as big) as Oldham or Rochdale or York.
Rumour has it that L1 will be changed again so here is a suggestion – split the league north and south. Add a couple of new teams to the south like Medway or Bristol and you have two leagues of eight (you could keep the L1 Cup including the top amateur teams including all 16 teams). At the end of the season the top four of each could play for promotion. Less costs, less travel, more competitive games and something to play for. The play offs keep the links between the north and south. Mind you with the prospect of Toulouse and a Canadian team potentially joining L1 next year, goodness knows what will happen.
Excuse for poor season 1 – “lack of regular access to DR players”
New River
When Skolars played South Wales in June Mike Grady kept his team on the pitch at half time. Originally I thought this might have been one of those sporting psychological thingies coaches like to do to rev their team up (the Scorpions did win after all). On reflection I suspect it was more the fact that the concrete terraces that run around the pitch and running track were considerably more comfortable than the make shift changing rooms available at New River. When it is finished New River promises to be a cracking facility but at the moment it isn’t. No club house, a porta loo, programmes sold on a trestle table – not a great match day experience (although it could be worse at least it is better than Oldham’s ground and we are not like the poor York fans who do not know where they are playing from one week to the next (a pretty normal experience each season for Bronco fans though)). The 4G pitch is though a major improvement on the mire and mud pit the used to pass for a playing surface.
Excuse for poor season 2 – “lack of proper facilities”
New coach
Following a devastating 4-86 defeat against Swinton in the Challenge Cup, the club let Joe Mbu go. Quite often club press releases in these circumstances are trite, Skolars’ was I think heartfelt – “The Board wanted to give their thanks for the 5 years Joe has been part of the coaching team and as a former junior at the club he is arguably London’s most successful home grown player and coach. A gentleman and Skolar through and through.” Hector McNeil said it was the hardest professional decision he had had to make. Former Skolar player and Hemel Assistant Coach Jermaine Coleman was quickly appointed. With a few blips (the South Wales home game stands out) Coleman has stabilized things and we have come close in a few games not least North Wales away and of course yet again managed to beat local rivals Hemel. We manage to contain stronger teams to respectable scores. Coleman has proved an asset on the pitch too particularly his kicking game. One thing that does need sorting is the A team which appears to have fallen apart or disappeared. In contrast the mini’s/juniors seem to go from strength and strength and the link up with Barnet College could pay dividends in the future.
Excuse for poor season 3 – “it takes time for a new coach to settle in”
The game
This has not been the season Skolars fans had hoped for. Despite the results (and the long walk to the portaloo), though most fans have kept coming. Performances have improved particularly in defence but we still, like last season make too many mistakes – many I have noticed right at the start of the game such as against All Golds. Too often we seem to put pressure on ourselves when we do not need too. There also seems to be a lack the edge in attack. Interestingly we have conceded fewer tries than the four clubs above us in L1 but scored considerably fewer points. The key now is to ensure that the rest of the season sees some solid performances and wins. Two seasons ago we were pushing for promotion. This season I am glad we are not bottom.
Excuse for poor season 4 – “look it just takes time”
Danny Jones
On 3 May I headed off to watch Skolars play Keighley. Tragically within twenty minutes of kick off the game was halted and then abandoned as first both team’s medical staff and then the emergency services did what they could to save Danny Jones. Tragically despite all their best efforts they failed. It was truly shocking. The response by rugby league fans and clubs and many others has been magnificent – with over £225,000 being donated to support his widow and two young daughters (you can still donate by the way - https://www.justgiving.com/dannyjones29).
Note from the editor: (Henry Taylor @HTaylor2013)
London Skolars play fellow expansion rivals Oxford this Sunday at New River. KO at 3pm and with no Broncos game this week, as many broncos fans should go and cheer them on as they look for their first 2015 home win,backing up their 3rd win away at the all golds last Saturday winning 34-12 which was their best performance of the season with stand out performances by Broncos-produced back rowers Lamont Bryan and Will Lovell (Skolars consider them some of the best back rowers in the competition) and Broncos-produced hooker/half Mike Bishay.
Tickets are just £12 adults and £6 concessions which can be bought on the day or online at www.skolarsrl.com.