Northampton Demons 12
London Skolars A 56

Bev Risman Medal: Andy McLean (London Skolars A)


London Skolars held off a strong starting Northampton Demons to claim the 2012 Harry Jepson Trophy Final, played at Pennine Way, Hemel.

Northampton had the upper hand in the opening exchanges, forcing a goal line drop-out from the kick off and a futher drop out as Ibrahim Kabiq was forced to clear a cross field kick from Kie Fewster. However the momentum turned as Demons’ Half Back Ben Young was flattened in a tough, but legal, challenge by Austen Aggrey.

Two knock-ons by Demons’ Tim Stevens gave field position for Skolars first score as James Roche broke through the line, Andy McLean adding the extras. The Skolars found themselves scoring again shortly afterwards as Danny Burke powered up the middle, set up by strong runs from Kabiq on the wing. McLean again was on target.

An off the ball challenge by Sam Blaydon saw him dispatched to the cooler, giving Northampton the chance to capitalise, which Mike Hulme did, creating space from inside in his own half to streak away to score. Ben Young’s conversion found its mark, but Northampton failed to capitalise further and as the Skolars were returned to a full compliment, Ollie Bloom jinked through under the posts to give McLean an easy shot at goal and take the Skolars in two tries ahead at the break.

The Londoners turned the pressure on from the kick off, with McLean grabbing a try of his own after Martin Wolfenden knocked-on, but missed the shot at goal. The Skolars were celebrating shortly afterwards as Dion Chapman was brought down before the line, but reached out to ground the ball under the posts, McLean helping himself to a further two points.

Northampton upped their attack and Glynn Roff took Fewsters kick to the corner well, but was bundled into touch before the flag preventing the score, however on the opposite wing Hulme kept his nerve to hug the touch line, giving the Demons a glimmer of hope as Young slotted the conversion.

Two tries in ten minutes from the Skolars began to seal the game as firstly Burke burrowed through from close range before Tom Ronayne completed a fine passing move out to the wing, McLean kicking the first but missing the latter.

At tempers frayed, Demons were reduced firstly to 12 and then 11 men as Adam Seamask and then Grant Wond were deemed to have made high tackles by referee Tom Mather.

With the player advantage, Skolars fired in a further three tries through Randall Powell’s dive from dummy-half, Austen Aggrey’s breakaway solo effort and bizarre, but successful effort from Jack Clover, who failed to catch the ball from the kick off,  kicking it back down field, but chased the kick down to collect and score. McLean made easy work of the three conversions and added the Man of the Match trophy to his tally for the day.


Northampton Demons: Paul Beckett, Michael Hulme, Ben Jones, Jamie Cottle, Glynn Roff, Kie Fewster, Ben Young, Grant Wond, Fred Woods, Dave Marks, Tim Stevens, Martin Wolfenden, Matt Lyle. Interchanges: Simon Gunnett, Dom Ward, Adam Seamask, Chris Webber

Tries: Mike Hulme (32, 51)
Goals: Ben Young 2/2

Sin Bin: Adam Seamask (61 – High Tackle), Grant Wond (69 – High Tackle)


London Skolars A: Aaron Smith, Tom Ronayne, James Fletcher, Jerry Obuchowski, Ibrahim Kabiq, Andy McLean, Jack Clover, Sam Blayden, Danny Burke, Austen Aggrey, Ollie Bloom, Joe Mbu, James Roche. Interchanges: Angelo Thomas, Dion Chapman, Randall Powell, Dave Roberts

Tries: James Roche (12), Danny Burke (19, 56), Ollie Bloom (36), Andy McLean (41), Dion Chapman (46), Tom Ronayne (64), Randall Powell (70), Austen Aggrey (72), Jack Clover (74)
Goals: Andy McLean 8/10

Sin Bin: Sam Blaydon (26 – Off The Ball Challenge)


Referee: Tom Mather