Momentum builds as we eye up the table

The Big Match Preview – Birmingham Moseley v Rosslyn Park 

Chris Bertram on an intriguing match-up
Another fiercely-fought game on the Common saw Birmingham Moseley build a lead and defend it against motivated opposition.  Rams certainly had the firepower in their pack to take the game to the home side, and as the second half wore on, it seemed that the game was drifting away from Moseley, but a steadfast rearguard action forced mistakes from the visitors, and the bonus point victory was secured.  It was a well-deserved first win of the calendar year, and brought cheer to the hearts of the supporters who had braved the wind and rain to  be there.


The five points earned only moved Moseley one place higher in the league table, up the 10th, but this is crucial.  At the end of the season, three clubs will be relegated, and the side in 11th place will face a play-off against a “next-best” team from National 2 to keep their National 1 status.  On the face of it, that should be an easy job, but one-off games are always nervy affairs, and should anything go wrong, the consequences will be dire.  Best not to think ahead too far at this stage, and just hope that the wins keep coming.  
Looking upwards in the table, Bishop’s Stortford in 8th place are just four points ahead, and Sedgley Park in 9th  only a singe point in front.  However, looking downwards, both Clifton and Dings Crusaders are within five points of the red-and-blacks.  But this is the “game in hand” weekend, where matches postponed from the snowy weekend in January are being played, and Stortford and Dings are inactive.  Now is the time to take advantage of that.

The five points earned only moved Moseley one place higher in the league table, up the 10th, but this is crucial.  At the end of the season, three clubs will be relegated, and the side in 11th place will face a play-off against a “next-best” team from National 2 to keep their National 1 status.  On the face of it, that should be an easy job, but one-off games are always nervy affairs, and should anything go wrong, the consequences will be dire.  Best not to think ahead too far at this stage, and just hope that the wins keep coming.  
Looking upwards in the table, Bishop’s Stortford in 8th place are just four points ahead, and Sedgley Park in 9th  only a singe point in front.  However, looking downwards, both Clifton and Dings Crusaders are within five points of the red-and-blacks.  But this is the “game in hand” weekend, where matches postponed from the snowy weekend in January are being played, and Stortford and Dings are inactive.  Now is the time to take advantage of that.

And so we welcome old friends Rosslyn Park back to the Common.  As I wrote in the preview for the postponed game, recent matches between the sides have usually been keenly contested, with one- or two-point margins of victory not uncommon.  At The Rock in September, Park managed a clear 47-24 win, but were slightly flattered by that scoreline, the game being close until the late stages.  Moseley will take a win by any margin, but will be aware that they will have to work hard for it.
That September result came as part of a storming start to the season by Rosslyn Park, as they won eight of their first nine games and sat among the league leaders.  Since then, however, they have had something of a collapse in form and have won only two of their last eight matches, with only one win in the last five games.  By contrast, Moseley, who could only win two of their first eleven matches, have turned things around and won four of their last six with one draw.  The head-to-head record may be in Park’s favour, but the recent form book tells a different story.  Could this be Moseley’s chance to prevail?  Let’s hope so.

Two players dominate the try scoring for Rosslyn Park, both outside backs.  Luke Mehson, with 16, is a young full back in his first season at the club, while wing Charlie Walker, who has 11, has been around longer, joining from Ealing Trailfinders in 2022.  Mehson is also top scorer, but leading the kicking charts with 62 points is fly-half Steffan James, a recruit from Cambridge in 2024, and who was previously at Rams.
Aquile Smith added to his try tally last Saturday and now has six, equal with Sam Clarke.  Callum Allen’s two were his first of the season and Elliott Creed also broke his duck with one.  Twenty different players have now crossed for Moseley, but Ollie Stedman and Morgan Dawes remain leaders with eight each.  Jack Jolly’s four conversions took him to 38 points, while Tommy Taylor’s late penalty lifted him to 54 points, and he remains top scorer.
So for the third week in a row the home faithful will gather at Billesley Common hopeful of victory, and confident that the team can resist anything that the opposition can throw at them.   Let the supporters gather in numbers and urge the team on with the passionate cry:
“Come on Moseley”