Jon Meadows reports on Moseley gritting out the win

Moseley started proceedings, kicking off down the slope and dominated the opening period. They were soon on the scoreboard, a lineout ball on the right was worked across the field. Stalled on the 5 metre line the ball was passed of the back of the ruck to Aquile Smith on the left wing who had space to cross in the corner, Jack Jolly making no mistake with a fine kick.

The lead would be doubled shortly afterwards. They gathered the restart and drove powerfully back into their opponents half gaining a penalty along the way. The resultant lineout was just retained and the hosts surged towards the posts. Stopped illegally Willo Bicknell was invited to take a breather. The resultant scrum saw the ball fed out, coming to Elliott Creed who had a gap to run through to touch down, Jolly again with the extras.

From the restart Rams had their first meaningful period inside the Moseley half without causing too much danger. However they were now getting into the game. A chip and chase by Mike Cooke deep inside his own territory was gathered and fed out to Zach Clow who had too much pace down the left wing and doing well to break through a covering tackle to score, Cooke landing the kick.

Moseley continued to press and found themselves just short once more. A couple of iterations passed before Callum Allen burrowed through, Jolly with his hattrick.

The hosts continued to press but could not break through, going in at half time with a healthy 21-7 lead.

Second half comeback from the visitors

Moseley started the second period brightly, Ollie Steadman making a strong break into the 22 before going to ground. Recycling the ball quickly they carried the momentum to just short of the line, Allen once again finishing, Jolly making it four from four. However it was to prove the turning point.

The visitors’ forwards were now the dominant force and were soon up to their hosts line, Rowan Grundy breaking through to score, a difficult kick going wide. Max Hayman soon followed suit being powered over after a sustained build up, Andrew Lambs kick bouncing in off the right hand upright to reduce the deficit further.

Moseley had a brief period of possession but could not do anything with it. With the visiting pack now dominating they worked forward once more, another penalty on 5 metres they opted for the scrum, Bicknell picking up at the back to plough through to bring the gap to four.

And still they came. The game was being played mainly within 10 metres of the Moseley line the home side were having to defend multiple pick and goes, catch and drives as well as the kitchen sink. With Jolly taking a card for the team it was a case of when, not if, the visitors would take the lead. However the hosts got some rest bite, from a tap and go Rams lost the ball forward. Moseley were awarded the scrum from which a free kick ensued giving them the chance to clear their lines.

A line out for the visitors just inside their half was overthrown, Ben Pogson gathering and getting just into the 10 metres before contact. The referee awarded a penalty for a high tackle, Tommy Taylor calmly stepped up to stroke the ball through the posts to secure a seven point lead.

There was just enough time for the restart from which Moseley conceded a penalty. Lambs long kick failed to find touch, going over the dead ball line for the final whistle.

Adam Balding was full of praise for a great game of rugby and gave credit to the spirit of the squad who had put in an incredibly hard shift to secure the win

Scoreline:  31-24 (HT 21-7)

Moseley

Tries: Smith (7), Creed (13), Allen(32,44)

Conversions: Jolly(8,14,33, 45)

Penalties: Taylor(79)

Rams

Tries: Clow(26), Grundy(49), Hayman(54), Bicknell(62)

Conversions: Cooke(27), Lamb(55)