Match Report: London Skolars vs Toronto Wolfpack
The Toronto Wolfpack began their journey to the Super League in assertive style on Saturday, running in 13 tries in a 76-0 defeat of London Skolars, and a statement win for the Canadian League 1 side.
The Wolfpack were the dominant squad right from kickoff, earning six trys in the first half of play, from: Kay, Moi Moi, Pownall, Craig Hall, Bob Beswick and Andrew Dixon, to start their first season match with a formidable 34 – 0 halftime lead.
Former New Zealand international Fui Fui Moi Moi scored a hat-trick, as rugby league trailblazers Toronto enjoyed their first game in the English league system.
The battering-ram forward – sent off in the mud at amateur side Siddal in the Challenge Cup last week – crossed for a treble as London Skolars were crushed 76-0 in the capital.
The pioneering Canadian side are competing in Championship 1 this season, playing their games in blocks on either side of the Atlantic.
It is widely thought that the squad Paul Rowley has at his disposal could compete at the top end of the Championship, if not the Super League.
However, they have to prove their mettle against the likes of the Skolars, Gloucester and York first, and did so in style at the first time of asking.
Moi Moi was the biggest name on the Wolfpack’s books, garnering Man of the Match honours, and was one of a number of stand-out performers in a 13-try rout.
Craig Hall kicked 12 goals and tagged a try of his own while the likes of Jonny Pownall, Liam Kay, Greg Worthington, Andrew Dixon, Bob Beswick and Quentin Laulu-Togaga’e also got in for scores.
Despite the statement of intent of the blowout win, Toronto Head Coach Paul Rowley expects stiff opposition for Toronto in the rest of its league matches this season. He said his team would not be getting carried away by the strong start.
“People want to knock us off our perch,” he said. “They want us to be arrogant. But we are not. We are humble and grounded.”
Toronto play Whitehaven RLFC on Sunday March 12 at 2:00pm GMT, 9:00am EST. The match will be aired live on GameTV coast to coast across Canada and on Premier sports in the UK.
Air Transat 3 Stars
1st ⭐ Fuifui Moimoi
2nd ⭐ Craig Hall
3rd ⭐ Liam Kay
Wolfpack Lineup
1 Quentin Laulu Togaga’e
2 Jonny Pownall
3 Greg Worthington
4 Craig Hall (C)
5 Liam Kay
6 Blake Wallace
7 Rhys Jacks
8 Fuifui Moimoi
9 Bob Beswick
29 Jake Emmitt
11 Andrew Dixon
12 James Laithwaite
13 Jack Bussey
Subs
14 Gary Wheeler
19 Steve Crossley
21 Adam Sidlow
17 Richard Whiting
Match Stats
Final Score: 0 – 76
March 4th 2017
New River Stadium, London, UK
1st Half (0 – 34)
6′ (Try) Hall C.
6′ (Conversion Goal) Hall C.
13′ (Try) Pownall J.
13′ (Conversion Goal) Hall C.
17′ (Try) Moimoi F.
17′ (Conversion Goal) Hall C.
27′ (Try) Beswick B.
27′ (Conversion Goal) Hall C.
33′ (Try) Kay L.
37′ (Try) Dixon A.
37′ (Conversion Goal) Hall C.
2nd Half (0 – 42)
45′ (Try) Moimoi F.
45′ (Conversion Goal) Hall C.
50′ (Try) Kay L.
50′ (Conversion Goal) Hall C.
57′ (Try) Worthington G.
57′ (Conversion Goal) Hall C.
59′ (Try) Worthington G.
59′ (Conversion Goal) Hall C.
69′ (Try) Hall C.
69′ (Conversion Goal) Hall C.
71′ (Try) Moimoi F.
71′ (Conversion Goal) Hall C.
76′ (Try)Laulu-Togagae
76′ (Conversion Goal) Hall C.
