Gateshead Thunder bounce back to seal first league win

Chris Hood's side came back strongly from a record defeat

Championship One side Gateshead Thunder recorded a first win of the season with a 24-18 defeat of London Skolars at the International Stadium on Sunday.

A hat-trick by wing Jimmy Atkinson, together with scores from captain Kevin Neighbour and Tom Wilson, were enough to see Thunder home.

Skolars stayed in the game with tries from Curtis Cunningham, Chad Isles and Matt Thomas.

Thunder stay bottom, but the win cuts their points arrears to four.

They began the season with a six-point deduction after the club's former holding company withdrew their backing and a new set-up had to be created at the International Stadium.

Chris Hood's side were also demoted to Championship One as part of the punishment from the Rugby Football League despite avoiding relegation on the field last season under former coach Steve McCormack.

It was an impressive comeback by Thunder after losing their previous game, against the Batley Bulldogs in the Northern Rail Cup, by the humiliating margin of 100-4.