Having been unbeaten in their first three games, Skolars lost both their games over the Easter weekend.
On Good Friday they fell to a determined Hemel Stags 8-26 in the opening round of the Kingstone Press Championship 1.
Despite enjoying more possession they couldn’t make it count. Hemel scored first half tries through Joel Miranda and Harry Mostyn. Skolars only points came from a Olly Purslow try on the stroke of half-time to bring the score to 4-10.
Hemel kicked a penalty goal to increase their lead and then received a gift when Dylan Skee’s restart went out on the full.
Tries for Mike Bishay and Mason Caton-Brown in three minutes saw them forge ahead. Jack Dillon pulled the score back with a try down the left flank, but a late Harry Mostyn try ensured Skolars first defeat of the season.
With Skolars through to the knockout stages and the home side out of the competition, coach Joe Mbu rang the chances for the re-arranged Northern Rail Cup game at Rochdale on Monday with nine players making their senior debut at Spotland.
They conceded 18 early points before an Evan Simons break set up Andy McLean’s try. Oliver Bloom ran from half-way to score their second three minutes later, McLean adding the conversion to reduce the deficit to 20-10 at the break.
Hornets scored four tries in the second half, but Skolars scored the final try with Sebastian Kolasi scoring in the left corner, McLean adding the two for a final score of 40-16.
