The 2005 tournament turned out to be one of the more interesting ones of recent years for the Drifters. It started under a cloud.  One of the opposing team managers allegedly referred to recent Drifter's squads as a disparate rag-bag of "has-beens and never weres".  This is true but does not excuse the theft of our best player and a storm raged around the arena as accused and defendant avoided each other for days.

Notwithstanding this body blow, the Drifters snaked their way to the Plate Final.  It is now part of folklore that an unassailable position was reached against the Irish Pub. Chasing 89, they were 32 for 3 after three overs.  Game over – but a Drifter drifted with the ball and, after various fluctuations, the Irish pub needed three from the final ball.  The ball was played to point but, after the throw in, the ball somehow got to be past the square leg umpire.  I cannot describe the confusion and, sad to say, the innuendos that followed.  Without re-opening old wounds, a tie was agreed, but in the cold light of day, a moral victory was awarded to the Drifters.

So, how to defend this title? What better than the team which performed last year?  We had the noble and soothing services of Lanthra Fernando.  He quietly merged with the old school of Messrs Walker, Howe (Neil), Jenner, Persaud and Pike.  We are eternally grateful to him.

But, I guess that we will not have his services this year.  Instead, we have pleasure of welcoming a returning Drifter, Mr Lobby Smith. He is a gossamer performer, entering a mature phase of his career. He has been away too long and we don't really care what he does, as long as he turns up for the games, as we cannot afford injuries.  Nor can we afford to pay for a pro – sordid business. This is a mild Drifters submission. All of our energies were exhausted in the Plate Final and its aftermath. If you were not there you will not understand. Onward to the 2006 tournament.