Kent Ravens 44-24 London Griffins

London Griffins and Kent Ravens warmed up for their respective League seasons with a highly entertaining and competitive game at Acacia Hall in Dartford.

The Ravens side featured a mix of first and second team players while the Griffins fielded the core of what they hope will be a successful debut London League side.

Kent were first out of the blocks and after a few early exchanges managed to get over the white wash with a Third minute score.

Any fears the Griffins had that the game would run away from them early on were dispelled as the experience of Alan Hill first helped to stabilise the side and then gave them a massive boost with two well taken scores leading up to the twenty minute mark.

8-6 soon became 14-6 as winger Ben Lee flew over for a great individual try converted by Stuart Hann. At this point the Griffins were in the ascendancy but just before the break Kent hit back with an unconverted try to leave the half time score Kent Ravens 12 London Griffins 14

However any hopes of a shock Griffins victory went up in flames early in the second half when two early Ravens tries put them 24-14 up. Stuart Hann replied for the visitors but two more Kent tries in a Three-minute spell stretched the core out to 38-18. Four minutes from the end the Ravens scored from a devastating length of the pitch effort but the last word went to the Griffins when in the final minute prop Giovanni Cinque bundled the ball over the try line from dummy half. Stuart Hann converted to leave ravens the winners 44-24.

The Griffins showed massive improvement from their last game against Southgate Eagles.

Winger Ben Lee was sound in defence and always dangerous in attack, Kiwi prop Rob Douglas was a constant menace with some devastating runs and full back Stuart Hann also impressed. However the joint Fullers sponsored London Griffins men of the match were Doug Hann and Alan Hill.

Griffins Line up.
Stuart Hann (1 try 2 goals)
Jon Burrell
Glyn Saunders
Dave Cashmore
Leon Hook
Rob Hipple (C)
Liam Bayly
Maurice Harley
Alan Hill (2 tries)
Adam Hill
Damian Thomas
Lee Brown
Alex Holling

Interchange
Rob Douglas
Doug Hann
Steve Farrar
Ben Lee (1 try)
Giovanni Cinque (1 try)