MIDLANDS HURRICANES 16 LONDON BRONCOS 78
IAN GOLDEN, Avery Fields, Sunday

GAIRO VORO scored three tries as London Broncos maintained their 100 percent league record.

This match all but won before half-time as they took advantage of poor positioning and errors by Midlands, who trailed 38-6 at the break.

The Hurricanes started well, forcing London into errors, but the visitors’ defence held out.

But when the Broncos won a goal-line drop-out, they took advantage as Jack Croft ran over on seven minutes, with James Meadows converting.

The second try came from the kick-off. Elliot Wallis found a gap oh his wing which shouldn’t have existed, and he strolled over to make it 10-0.

There was soon a third. Brandon Webster-Mansfield used some good vision to spot a space ten metres out and evaded a tackle to ground. Meadows goaled.

The fourth came from the next set. It looked like Midlands had defended fairly well, but Dean Hawkins’ long kick on the final tackle was caught by Neil Tchamambe, who sprinted over, with Meadows kicking well again.

After a brief respite, when London were penalised for a forward pass, the fifth try was scored.

Following a dropped ball, the capital team attacked well again, and Webster-Mansfield twisted over for his second, with Meadows converting.

London made it look easy for their sixth try. When looking for a gap on the final play of a set, they kept the ball moving until Voro saw his chance and ran over. Meadows added the goal.

On the half-hour, a dropped ball gave Midlands fans something to cheer about, especially as it led to the home side breaking their duck.

Sully Medforth ran 50 metres, his side won a penalty, then from the resulting set, Toby Warren dived over to score. Medforth converted.

Midlands threatened to score a second time, but they were learning that you can’t make a mistake against London. Two dropped balls later, with London winning a scrum from ten metres out, there was an easy try for Tchamambe.

The home side scored first in the second half. Catching a high lob from Medforth, Aidan McGowan then crossed.

But when London attacked again, they scored. Benefitting from a penalty for a late tackle, Ben Hursey-Hord dived over and Meadows landed the goal.

Voro ran well to add his second try of the game and soon added another for his hat-trick, with Meadows improving both.

London were now back to a point a minute, then overtook the clock. Hawkins, Siliva Havili and  Reagan Campbell-Gillard quickly added tries which were all converted, making it 74-10 on 69 minutes.

Alex Max was next over for the Championship favourites, but Midlands had the last word.

With four minutes remaining, taking advantage of a rare London error near to their line, Jon Luke Kirby forced his way over, and Medforth converted.

GAMESTAR: It was a good team performance from London, with Gairo Voro standing out thanks to his hat-trick of tries and hard work throughout.

GAMEBREAKER: Four Broncos tries in ten minutes early in the first half set the tone.

MATCHFACTS

HURRICANES
1 Todd Horner
2 Matty Chrimes
31 Liam Sutcliffe
5 Luis Roberts
23 Aidan McGowan
30 James Woodburn-Hall
19 Sully Medforth
8 Jon Luke Kirby
9 Aiden Roden
10 Tyler Dickinson
11 Tom Wilkinson
21 Zach Jebson
20 Toby Warren
Subs (all used)
3 Ryan Johnson
16 Zeus Silk
17 Kieran Moran
26 Ethan Newboult

Tries: Warren (31), McGowan (44), Kirby (76)
Goals: Medforth 2/3

BRONCOS
18 James Meadows
26 Neil Tchamambe
3 Robert Mathias
20 Brandon Webster-Mansfield
2 Elliot Wallis
23 Gairo Voro
7 Dean Hawkins
8 Reagan Campbell-Gillard
14 Finley Glare
16 Epel Kapinias
11 Luke Smith
12 Jack Croft
13 Siliva Havili
Subs (all used)
4 Alex Max
6 Connor O’Beirne
17 Marcus Stock
19 Ben Hursey-Hord

Tries: Croft (7), Wallis (10), Webster-Mansfield (14, 22), Tchamambe (17, 37), Voro (27, 53, 56), Hursey-Hord (50), Hawkins (62), Havili (66), Campbell-Gillard (68), Max (73)
Goals: Meadows 11/14

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-10, 0-16, 0-22, 0-28, 0-34, 6-34, 6-38; 10-38, 10-44, 10-50, 10-56, 10-62, 10-68, 10-74, 10-78, 16-78

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Hurricanes: Sully Medforth; Broncos: Gairo Voro

Penalty count: 3-3
Half-time: 6-38
Referee: Freddie Lincoln
Attendance: 489