Post by michaelr on Dec 17, 2016 22:28:39 GMT
We supporters set out on a beautiful, bright, sunny day with high hopes of a win - never mind the width - just a win. And we certainly were a close knit group of supporters being as chummy as possible on a nice, clean coach; but more on that, perhaps, from the MSA.
I suspect Moseley lost the toss because they played "downhill" for the first half. Coventry played as I expected - through their forwards; but before they had a chance to get their forwards into stride they made an excellent break up the left, a couple of inter-passes and bobs your uncle, fanny is your aunt their left winger was in under the post. A converted try in under 3 minutes! Well, that certainly lifted the rafters; 7 - 0 on the board before some of the crowd had even sat down.
That spurred the Coventry pack into action and they began to take the game to Moseley. Things were looking a little uncomfortable for Moseley in the first quarter as they were, metaphorically, put under the Coventry forwards cosh. But Moseley, even though they conceded a few penalties, took the hits and concentrated on containing the Coventry pack, which was about the best they could do initially. In that time though they did match the Coventry pack in the tight, just about, but were marginally off the pace in the loose.
Indeed it was not till about 10 minutes or so into the game that Moseley even managed to get out of their own half and then it didn't last long because Coventry played a much better kick and chase - certainly in the first quarter or so. Moseley kicks were primarily defence clearance kicks, whereas the Coventry kicks were primarily attack. And here Coventry were better than Moseley. When Moseley received the Coventry kick they inevitably got a player with it. When Coventry received a Moseley kick they had space to run it. It was during that first quarter that Coventry scored their first penalty which put them 10 - 0 up and firmly in the driving seat. I was a little bit surprised they chose to kick that penalty, so early in the game, but at least it put their count more than one full score clear.
But Moseley did not panic, no sir. Granted they had been slow opening as the "Calamity" came early in the game. They had been caught cold, as it were and struggled for the first twenty minutes; they lacked cohesion; they were playing perhaps just a little too tight which allowed Coventry to exploit the the edges of the tackle. However, Moseley began to put that right and in return for absorbing the Coventry forward pressure began to make inroads of their own; just little pocket battles here and there which made Coventry "stop and think".
I also felt that Coventry, in addition to taking Mosley on "up front" thought they could spring a surprise of their own and play through their three-quarters. And that they certainly did making some excellent clear breaks which gave Moseley an "unexpected" extra dimension to consider. Again, Moseley did not panic, even though their first line of that "unexpected" defence was a little fragile, as they repelled each and every Coventry raid.
Coventry must have felt more than a little bewildered as their attacks, certainly in the first quarter were relentlessly absorbed and counter attacked by an increasingly confident Moseley. Moseley played much better with ball in hand than they did with their line kicking. It was a lovely day for long line kicks but the Moseley kicks were often short, hardly better than a desperate clearance kick.
But Moseley ploughed their way up field, one step at a time until around the half hour when they managed to reach the Coventry 22 and stay there for a while. Things were looking better for Moseley now as Coventry were forced into some serious defending. Moseley were camped in the Coventry 22 for what seemed like an eternity. Even though Coventry clearance kicks forced Moseley back up field a few times, they responded like the tide rushing in as they drove forwards and pounded the Coventry line washing the Coventry boots in the process with their sweat.
The last two or three minutes of the first half seemed like an eternity as we expected the half time whistle to blow before Moseley could turn pressure into points. But the referee played on for around 3 or 4 minutes, I don't know why but it suited Moseley as they finally scored a try just left of the posts. 13 - 10 at half time which was mighty relieving, I must say.
Coventry started the second half much as they did the first half nearly scoring in the first few minutes. They scored another early penalty taking the score to 16 - 10. But Moseley were well into their stride now and began to take control and put Coventry under pressure. Now Coventry were having to scramble their defence to keep Moseley out. The Moseley tight became much more assured and they hounded Coventry in the loose. The Coventry line-out faltered as they over-threw two attacking line-out opportunities on the trot. Moseley took advantage of those and galloped up the field. The penalty count began to go in favour of Moseley and they made good territorial advantage of it. Before long Moseley scored another converted try - I think it was our Ed - which gave them some well earned breathing space and a 1 point 16 - 17 lead. And then they collected two more penalties taking the score to 23 - 16.
Shortly after that came the Coventry line-out catch and drive around the Moseley 22. It was absolutely text book perfect and would have done even England proud. The catch and formation was so perfect that all the players were in the right place at exactly the right time to apply the drive, and boy oh boy what a drive. It was not not a lumbering juggernaut clumsily changing the point of pressure as it trundled towards the try line. No. It was like Mallard majestically creating a new steam speed record; an arrow speeding towards it's intended target, the Moseley try line which it hit, just right of the posts.
Moseley could have done nothing to have stopped it. They had been containing the Coventry pack well up till then. They had forced a couple of scrum and maul penalties of their own and had been running Coventry around the pitch. Perhaps Moseley didn't expect a catch and drive, particularly from 'tuhter side of the 22 but it happened and it levelled the score 23 - 23 with about 8 minutes to go. Game on said the Coventry commentator.
And game on on it was. Coventry had their tails up now but with two minutes to go Moseley conceded another penalty. Coventry said thank you very much, slotted it between the posts and with it took the lead 26 - 23 with two minutes to go. Moseley kicked off again; they took possession off Coventry and forced their way up the field. We all thought that when Moseley were forced into touch over the other side of the pitch, well into injury time, that was the end of the game, but it wasn't. Coventry lost the line out and Moseley surged forward again probing the Coventry defence and then CALAMITY. They knocked on. The referee played the scrum but all Coventry had to do was pick the ball out of the back and hoof it off the pitch.
I was disappointed for Moseley, but not disheartened. They certainly deserved a draw, if not the win just for their cussedness. But the Coventry had the heavier pack, that touch of extra power which,at the right moments, swayed the result in their favour. It was a thrilling game. A very entertaining game and a credit to both teams. Moseley were not not discredited, far from it. They played their part in a thoroughly entertaining game.
As I said 'tuther day on this page. Whilst one can feel confident, nothing can ever be for certain as this game today has proved. Moseley, after a slow start played well, but it was not to be their day. None-the-less, as ever, come on Mooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooose...
Great review. Spot on
