This season was the 10-year anniversary and an opportunity to take stock. The club had emerged from no-where to hold a respected reputation at level-9 in the RFU structure, regularly arranging approximately 28-fixtures for the 1st XV and about 20-matches for the 2nd XV. Regular training was held on the pitch under floodlights, a grant had provided funding for the purchase of a scrum machine and the club were managing to raise sufficient funds to flourish. In addition, attention to the juniors was commendable by a number of people with regular fixtures, while on the club front, Chair Roy Powell, President Tom Straughton and the Committee could all feel rightly proud of what the club had achieved in their first 10-years.

On the playing front this season, the traditional Christmas match produced a surprise as one of the major future ‘stars’ of the club emerged from this friendly game in the Boxing Day frost. Paul Hulland had attended Lacon Childe School in a very successful ‘sporty’ year but had not played very much for the school and had not impressed when he did. However, working in the Milk Parlour at Robinson’s Farm and the odd game for the Young Farmers had ignited an interest in the game. The stunning 5-try performance sparked calls for Paul to start playing for the club immediately – very generously Adrian ‘Murphy’ Robinson, a stalwart of the Second Row and considering retirement volunteered to take over the Saturday shifts to release Paul to play. Just 4-tries towards the end of that season, but a lot of coaching and mentoring work performed by Ian King, turned this raw potential in to the colossus ‘ball-carrying’ No 8 that terrorised defences at this level for the next few seasons until a move to Luctonian RFC at the start of the 2006/07 season.

Though Willie Bache led the side with distinction, a poor League season revealed only 3-victories in 18-matches and only 5-wins in a season of 24-games for the 1st XV. Colin Smith again proved reliable with the boot for 122-points (3-tries, 16-conversions & 25-penalties) as tries proved quite difficult to get. Mark Little (6-tries), Colin Todd (6-tries), Richard Skidmore (5-tries), John Wilks (6-tries) and Paul Hulland (4-tries) all contributed. Injuries and the loss of a few players for various reasons put pressure on the 2nd XV to field a side regularly, though led by Steve ‘Chico’ Phillips they did manage victories in about half of their 12-games.

Though there were still plenty of youngsters eager for matches, the lack of coaching or manager volunteers, led to a smaller number of junior fixtures this term, so several of the keen enthusiasts were starting to drift off to Kidderminster Carolians.