Storm win League and 'A' team
runners up in Middlesex 9's bowl

A great weekend for the South London Storm saw the First team crowned as Minor Premier Champions in the RLC Premier South division and the Second team finish as runners up in the Middlesex 9?s bowl.

The weekend was a rest weekend from league competition for both sides after the postponement of the first team match against Luton Vipers, but with results going their way in other matches South London now cannot finish any lower than top in the division.

South London will finish top of the Premier South and so taking home advantage into the play offs, which will determine the over all Premier South champions and the representative to go into the national Semi Finals against the Welsh Champions.

The second team also with a rest weekend after finishing 4 in the London and South East division of the RLC Regional competition decided to enter the prestigious Middlesex 9?s competition at New River Stadium. With a week until the play offs started it was a good way to wind down after an excellent league season and build up to the play offs for the RLC Shield which they are favourites to take home from London and the South East and become their representatives in the national championships.

The Middlesex 9?s contained teams form the Royal Engineers, Royal Logistics Corps, the Navy, London Skolars, Broadstairs Bulldogs, Student champions St Mary?s University along with Invitational teams comprising the top of the Student game and international teams such as the South African Wild dogs.

Storm made their way into the Bowl final after some fine performances from their squad most notably Joe Mayhew, Steve Cook, Rich Pitchfork, Rob Grant, Jack Murdoch, Will Davies, Eric Stewart, Nick Bayford and the unfortunate Chris Bevan who was concussed before the final.

Storms most impressive performance came against the South Africans, even though it ended in a loss for the Storm it was a rousing performance with grit and determination which stopped the South Africans in their tracks. The team had demolished many other sides but only just beat the Storm by 18-4. it was in this match that a high tackle brought to the end Chris Bevan?s fine day.

Lee Mason-Ellis and old boy of the Storm was drafted in at the last minute for the final match against the Student Rugby League Select team comprising many with GB Student honours.

The match was lost in the last few minutes of the second half with a quick double for the SRL team and Storm could not claw their way back into the match. An unlucky storm went down by 24-4 in the final but it was a great day and the boys picked up their medals with pride.

Next match for South London Storm first team is away at West London in the final match of the regular league season on Saturday 23rd July. Kick off at 2.30 at Grasshoppers RUFC Syon Lane.