South London Storm

Infobox_esl_club | clubname = South London Storm


fullname = South London Storm Rugby League Club
emblem = Stylized Lightning Bolt and Rugby Ball
colours = Maroon and White
founded = 21 July 1997
sport = rugby league
league = Rugby League Conference
ground = Frant Road (Streatham-Croydon RFC), Croydon
web = [http://www.stormrl.com www.stormrl.com]

South London Storm is a rugby league club who play and train at Streatham-Croydon RFC in Thornton Heath, in the London Borough of Croydon. Founded in 1997, Storm have been voted Rugby League Conference "Club of the Year" three times, in 2002, 2005 and 2006.

Club Structure

South London Storm:
* First Grade (Rugby League Conference Premier)
* Second Grade (London League)
* U18s (London Youth League)

South London Storm run the following junior/youth clubs:

Croydon Hurricanes:
* U7s, U8s/9s, U10s/11s, U12s, U13s/14s, U15s/16s

Brixton Bulls:
* U9s, U11s, U14s

Wandsworth Whirlwinds:
* U14s

Thornton Heath Tornadoes:
* U11s, U12s Addington Lightning:
* U9s, U11s, U12s, U14s

Club History

The South London area has a strong rugby league tradition, and many of London’s most successful amateur clubs have come from this part of the capital. For nearly three decades clubs such as Streatham Celtic, Peckham Pumas and South London Warriors dominated the London Amateur League, and between them they won the title over twenty times. Sadly, the mid-1990s heralded the demise of these once dominant clubs leaving the league without a club south of the river.

To fill this void the current South London club was formed on 21 July 1997 by Jed Donnelly, Graeme Harker and Julian Critchley in a bar after London Broncos' World Club Championship victory against Canberra Raiders on 21 July 1997. Initially nicknamed 'the Saints', as one of the founder members was a supporter of St Helens, the fledgling club recruited many of its players from the recently defunct East London, Bexleyheath and Peckham outfits, and they approached the local rugby union club, Streatham-Croydon, about basing themselves at their Frant Road ground.

London League

Saints were immediately accepted into the London Amateur Rugby League, and in their debut season they finished a creditable third in the Second Division behind Kingston and St Albans Centurions. That 1997/98 season culminated in an appearance in the Gordon Anderton Memorial Trophy Final against Reading Raiders at the New River Stadium. The 24-28 was a cruel blow for a team that were considered to have enjoyed the better of the game, but two controversial Raiders’ tries in the closing two minutes sealed Saints’ fate.

The 1998/99 season was one that promised much for Saints but, due to the near collapse of the league, that potential was largely unfulfilled, although South London did eventually emerge from the debris as runners-up to the London Colonials. A second successive appearance in the Gordon Anderton Memorial Trophy Final again ended in defeat (28-32), this time at the hands of a strong Metropolitan Police team.

It was in February 1999 that the club launched its junior section, initially at U11 only. The bulk of the youngsters came from the neighbouring Whitehorse Manor School where Saints scrum-half Lee Mason-Ellis was a teacher. They made their competitive debut two months later against Kingston Warriors, at the time the only other junior club in the capital, losing narrowly in an exciting encounter.

For the seniors, with the prospect of winter rugby league looking increasingly forlorn, South’s thoughts turned to the new summer competition, the Rugby League Conference. The name of the club was changed to South London Storm as there were two other teams known as 'the Saints' in the Conference. Three months later the club was accepted into the Southern Division of the expanding competition.

2000

It was a real baptism of fire for Storm in the RLC, as they managed only a single win – away at Kingston – to finish bottom of their group. The season opener at home to Oxford Cavaliers (4-62) was covered by the Independent newspaper. Despite suffering a number of maulings (including a 2-100 loss at the hands of Crawley Jets), enthusiasm never waned and the club did much to raise the profile of the sport in this corner of the capital. Amazingly, Storm’s season ended with an appearance in the London Amateur Rugby League Cup Final against St Albans Centurions. But once again Storm were left frustrated as the Hertfordshire side emerged victorious from a gripping encounter.

The club made sporting history in October when the U11s played their counterparts from Kingston Warriors in the curtain raiser to the England vs Australia Rugby League World Cup clash at Twickenham. It was the first ever game of League at union's headquarters and Storm's Mark Cole, cousin of England footballer Joe Cole, scored the first ever try at the stadium and Rob Harker scored the first ever hat-trick of tries.

eason's Record

First Grade

Rugby League Conference South

*06/05/2000 South London Storm 4 Oxford Cavaliers 62
*13/05/2000 West London Sharks 60 South London Storm 6
*20/05/2000 Crawley Jets 100 South London Storm 2
*27/05/2000 South London Storm 24 Kingston Warriors 26
*03/06/2000 South London Storm 8 St Albans Centurions 58
*10/06/2000 South London Storm 8 North London Skolars 78
*17/06/2000 Oxford Cavaliers 72 South London Storm 0
*24/06/2000 South London Storm 0 West London Sharks 68
*01/07/2000 South London Storm 6 Crawley Jets 90
*08/07/2000 Kingston Warriors 16 South London Storm 24
*15/07/2000 St Albans Centurions 50 South London Storm 10
*22/07/2000 North London Skolars 70 South London Storm 14

RLC Shield Play Offs

*27/07/2002 Kingston Warriors 22 South London Storm 28 (Group)
*03/08/2002 South London Storm 20 Oxford Cavaliers 12 (Group)
*10/08/2002 South London Storm 36 Kingston Warriors 4 (Group)
*17/08/2002 Oxford Cavaliers 12 South London Storm 20 (Group)
*24/08/2002 Crewe Wolves 14 South London Storm 21 (Semi-Final)
*31/08/2002 South London Storm 54 Bedford Swifts 2 (Final)

Second Grade

Rugby League Conference South

*03/05/2003 Gosport Vikings 80-4 South London Storm
*10/05/2003 South London Storm 16-40 Greenwich Admirals
*17/05/2003 South London Storm 18-12 Hemel Stags
*31/05/2003 South London Storm 0-88 Crawley Jets
*07/06/2003 South London Storm 14-24 Gosport Vikings
*14/06/2003 West London Sharks 88-12 South London Storm
*28/06/2003 Greenwich Admirals 62-8 South London Storm
*05/07/2003 South London Storm 16-26 Kingston Warriors
*12/07/2003 North London Skolars 82-8 South London Storm
*19/07/2003 Crawley Jets 88-6 South London Storm

2005

As the cost of travelling to places as far afield as Carlisle and Gateshead began to spiral, Storm took the decision to apply for, and were admitted to, the newly created RLC Premier League for the 2005 season and appointed Rob Powell as Director of Coaching. The season proved to be a success with the club winning its first round Challenge Cup match against West London Sharks (24-20) in front of a crowd of 1,000. However, the Powergen Challenge Cup run came to an end in the second round when they were beaten 50-24 at Castleford Lock Lane, despite having surprising led at half-time.

During the RLC Premier campaign the first team dominated the southern group and won all but one game during the season.

The team lost in the national semi-final against Bridgend, the competition’s eventual winners, but the season ended on a high by beating the other 85 clubs to the RLC Club of the Year award for the 2nd time in 4 years.

eason's Record

First Grade

Rugby League Conference Premier South

*07/05/2005 South London Storm 82 Ipswich Rhinos 6
*14/05/2005 London Skolars A 0 South London Storm 64
*21/05/2005 South London Storm 72 Sunderland Nissan 6
*28/05/2005 South London Storm 46 Greenwich Admirals 0
*04/06/2005 Luton Vipers 4 South London Storm 68
*11/06/2005 South London Storm 52 West London Sharks 14
*18/06/2005 Sunderland Nissan 4 South London Storm 76
*25/06/2005 Ipswich Rhinos 16 South London Storm 24
*02/07/2005 South London Storm 94 London Skolars A 4
*09/07/2005 Greenwich Admirals 4 South London Storm 76
*16/07/2005 South London Storm Luton Vipers Won - Walk over
*23/07/2005 West London Sharks 46 South London Storm 10

2006

The 2006 summer season was to be the most successful for South London Storm as a club, with both senior teams winning their leagues, successes for the 4 Storm youth clubs, and the first team being crowned RLC National Champions.

Despite pressure from the Ipswich Rhinos, Storm once again won the South division of the RLC Premier. After disposing of the Bridgend team in the semi-final, they crushed the East Lancashire Lions in the final at Broadstreet RUFC by 30 points to nil.

This rounded off a successful season that included the London League title for the second team who defeated Luton Vipers in the Final.

eason's Record

First Grade

Rugby League Conference Premier South

*29/04/2006 South London Storm 54 West London Sharks 24
*06/05/2006 South London Storm 30 Coventry Bears 18
*13/05/2006 South London Storm 34 Haringey Hornets 28
*20/05/2006 Essex Eels 6 South London Storm 68
*27/05/2006 South London Storm 46 Kingston Warriors 18
*10/06/2006 Ipswich Rhinos 32 South London Storm 14
*17/06/2006 West London Sharks 34 South London Storm 24
*24/06/2006 Coventry Bears 28 South London Storm 32
*01/07/2006 Haringey Hornets 30 South London Storm 34
*08/07/2006 South London Storm 80 Kingston Warriors 12
*29/07/2006 South London Storm 46 Ipswich Rhinos 8

London League Play Offs

*06/08/2006 South London Storm 44-14 Bedford Tigers
*12/06/2006 South London Storm 52-20 Luton Vipers

Second Grade

London League

*28/04/2007 South London Storm 22-38 London Griffins
*12/05/2007 South London Storm 26-29 Southgate Skolars
*19/05/2007 West London Sharks 56-14 South London Storm
*02/06/2007 South London Storm 82-10 Kent Ravens
*16/06/2007 South London Storm 42-18 Smallford Saints
*23/06/2007 Farnborough Falcons 40-28 South London Storm
*07/07/2007 South London Storm 18-24 West London Sharks
*14/07/2007 Southgate Skolars 72-6 South London Storm
*21/07/2007 Kent Ravens 18-30 South London Storm

RLC Premier Play Offs

*09/08/2008 South London Storm 20 Ipswich Rhinos 14 (Divisional Semi-Final)
*16/08/2008 West London Sharks 24 South London Storm 20 (Divisional Final)

First Grade Playing Record - 2000 to 2008

Club Honours

*Harry Jepson Trophy (RLC National Champions): Winners 2006
*Harry Jepson Trophy Semi Finals: 2006
*RLC Club Of The Year: 2002, 2005, 2006
*RLC Shield: Winners 2002
*Active Sports Club Of The Year Award: 2004
*BBC London Amateur Sports Club of the Year: 2005
*RLC Premier South Division: Winners 2005, Winners 2006
*RLC Premier South Grand Final: Winners 2005, Winners 2006
*RLC Premier South Division: Runners Up 2007, Runners Up 2008
*RLC Premier South Grand Final: Runners Up 2007, Runners Up 2008
*London Amateur Rugby League (2nd XIII): Winners 2006
*Gordon Anderton Memorial Trophy: Runners Up 1997-98, 1998-99
*London League Cup: Runners Up 2000
*Rugby League Challenge Cup: 2nd Round 2005

Player Records

*Most Tries in a match: Mark Nesbitt 6 vs Aberavon Fighting Irish - 2003
*Most Goals in a match: Louis Neethling 11 vs London Skolars & Ipswich Rhinos - 2005
*Most Points in a match: Louis Neethling 34 vs Ipswich Rhinos - 2005
*Most Tries in a season: Louis Neethling 28 - 2005
*Most Goals in a season: Louis Neethling 102 - 2005
*Most Points in a season: Louis Neethling 316 - 2005
*Most First Grade Appearances: Carl Zacharow 101 - (2002 - 2008)

Club Records

*Most Points Scored: 94 vs London Skolars - 2005
*Most Points Conceded: 100 vs Crawley Jets - 2000 & West London Sharks - 2002
*Biggest Home Win: 94-4 vs London Skolars - 2005
*Biggest Away Win: 76-4 vs Sunderland Nissan - 2005 & Greenwich Admirals - 2005
*Biggest Home Defeat: 0-90 vs London Skolars - 2001
*Biggest Away Defeat: 2-100 vs Crawley Jets - 2000
*Highest Scoring Game: 106 points vs West London Sharks (6-100) - 2002
*Lowest Scoring Game: 22 vs Ipswich Rhinos (18-4) - 2007
*Longest Undefeated Run: 14 games - 24 June 2006 to 30 June 2007
*Longest Run Without a Win: 9 games - 6 May 2000 to 1 July 2000

Club Awards

Coaches

* Julian Critchley - 1997-98
* Ian Curzon - 1998-99
* Julian Critchley & Graeme Harker - 2000
* Paul Johnstone - 2001
* Andy Fleming - 2001
* Julian Critchley & Graeme Harker - 2001
* Anthony Lipscombe - 2002
* Darryl Pitt - 2003 & 2004
* Rob Powell - 2005 & 2006
* Andy Gilvary & flagicon|Australia Dave Wilson - 2007
* Marcus Tobin - 2008

outh London Storm Dream Team

To mark Storm's 10th Anniversary the club announced their 1997-2007 Dream Team.

# Tane Kingi (2005–2007)
# Corey Simms (2002–2004)
# Keri Ryan (2001–2006)
# Carl Zacharow (2001–2007)
# Gavin Calloo (2001–2006)
# Michael Walker (2005–2007)
# Terry Reader (2001–2002)
# Gavin Hill (2005–2007)
# Mark Nesbitt (2002–2006)
# Koben Katipa (2003–2004)
# Alan Emerson (2006–2007)
# Louis Neethling (2004–2005)
# Paul Rice (2003–2004)
# Andrew Hames (2003–2007)
# Nick Byram (2000–2004)
# John Ferguson (2003–2005)
# Julian Critchley (1997–2000)

* Coach: flagicon|England Rob Powell (2005-2006)
* Manager: flagicon|England Steve Cook (2002-2007)

Former Players Now At Pro Clubs

*flagicon|England Will Sharp - Harlequins RL
*flagicon|England Lamont Bryan - Harlequins RL
*flagicon|West Indies Corey Simms - London Skolars
*flagicon|England Adam Janowski - Harlequins RL
*flagicon|England Rob Powell - Harlequins RL (Assistant Coach)

ee also

* Rugby League Conference
* London League
* Harlequins RL
* Streatham-Croydon RFC

External links

* [http://www.stormrl.com Official Website]
* [http://www.rugbyleagueconference.co.uk/home/ Rugby League Conference]