Season 2005
2005 was the Griffins first season and saw the club finding its feet under coach Paul Curley. All games were semi contact and played away as the club did not yet have a home ground.
On 28 June 2005, barely three months after its formation, the club played its first game against Kingston Warriors. The team battled well in a 34-12 defeat with Rob Douglas creating history when he dived over for the first ever Griffins try.
The next game saw the club notch its first victory with a 52-19 win at Kent Ravens on 17 July 2005. Simon Bashorun scored a lung-bursting long range try (which was later voted try of the season) but Chris Heading was Griffins man of the match scoring 3 tries and converting 8 from 9 goal attempts.
On 14 August 2005, the team took a step up in terms of quality of opposition and intensity against a South London Storm side including many first team players. Storm were 44-22 winners in a competitive game. Griffins man of the match was Matt King.
Next up was a trip to St Albans to face St Albans Centurions Old Boys on 10 September 2005. This proved to be a very close-fought game. In appalling heavy rain the game was tied at 22-22 with just minutes to go. However, a series of Griffins handling errors gave the Centurions the initiative and they took the lead with just a minute on the clock. A failed short kick off gifted another score to the opposition who took the victory by 32-22. Griffins man of the match was shared this between Jason Dunn, who controlled the game admirably in the centre of the pitch, and Chris Caulfield who defended superbly and looked dangerous in attack.
In its final 13 a side game of its first season, the Griffins went back to South London Storm on 25 September 2005 looking for revenge. The team performed beyond all expectations to win 26-18 against a side including some much more experienced professional players. The Griffins showed great skill and determination while inspired leadership from Bill Drinkwater and Dell Bristow saw the team victorious in an intense battle.
Read more about this topic: London Griffins
Famous quotes containing the word season:
“When I read a story, I relive the moment from which it sprang. A scene burned itself into me, a building magnetized me, a mood or season of Nature’s penetrated me, history suddenly appeared to me in some tiny act, or a face had begun to haunt me before I glanced at it.”
—Elizabeth Bowen (1899–1973)