GATESHEAD Thunder’s best chance of a long-sought league victory came and went yesterday as London Skolars claimed a scrappy basement battle at the International Stadium.

Thunder are now winless from their last 36 attempts in Co-operative Championship One, with their last league victory coming 17 months ago. Small solace could be taken by the fact that yesterday’s visitors failed to register the required 48 which would have taken Gateshead’s points-conceded total past the thousand mark for the season.

And there was little between them early on as the league’s two bottom teams sat level on 6-6 by the time the half-hour arrived.

The appropriately-named Smokie Junior had scorched a path to the try-line for London to open the scoring on 10 minutes, taking scrum ball at first receiver before racing 30 metres down the left-hand touchline.

Dylan Skee converted, but Gateshead never looked out of the contest as Paul Stamp, Ryan Clarke and Connor Condron all probed the gain-line.

There was no shortage of enthusiasm in the Gateshead defence, and the home side were rewarded for their attacking endeavours when Stephen Walton hit a straightening angle to collect Will Bate’s scoring pass for a converted try.

But just when it looked as if the sides would go into the break at six apiece, London pounced against the run of play for Matt Thomas to crash over in the right corner for a 10-6 half-time lead.

Taking further control after the interval, quickfire tries from Aaron Small and James Anthony took the gap to double figures, but there was still hope for the hosts as Dan O’Sullivan’s try kept them within touching distance.

That was until tries from Skee, Colleran and Anthony brushed aside any hopes of a home fightback in the closing quarter, although a last-minute consolation saw Olly O’Mara cross in the right corner.