Fylde make two changes in their starting line-up, with lock Nick Ashcroft and no 8 David Fairbrother returning to the pack. The backs are unchanged. Sale Sharks dual registered prop Jake Pope joins the replacements.
15 Tom Carleton; 14 Henry Hadfield, 13 Chris Briers, 12 Connor Wilkinson, 11 James Bailey; 10 Greg Smith, 9 Alex Dolly; 1 Adam Lewis (c), 2 Alex Loney, 3 Mark Irving, 4 Nick Ashcroft, 5 Olli Parkinson, 6 Will Hopwood, 7 Tom Burtonwood, 8 David Fairbrother.
16 Jake Pope, 17 Ben Gregory, 18 Matt Garrod, 19 Ben Vernon, 20 Luke Fowden.
Post by Communications Team on Feb 16, 2018 15:55:01 GMT
Match preview
Birmingham Moseley v Fylde By Glyn Barlow Saturday 17th February 2018 3.00pm KO @ Billesley Common
Following their fine away win at Bishop’s Stortford last weekend Birmingham Moseley entertain a Fylde team very much struggling to find a way off the bottom of the league table.
With just three wins from their twenty two matches Fylde sit firmly in sixteenth slot nine points behind Old Albanian, and twenty one away from Loughborough Students and safety.
Flyde must look back to the beginning of December for their last victory, against Birmingham Moseley’s opponents from last Saturday Bishop’s Stortford who they overcome 29-22. The only other highlights of the season have been against Rosslyn Park 29-20 in September and Old Albanian 15-16 in November. On the debit side the team has suffered heavy losses to Plymouth Albion 68-15, Coventry 0-64, Esher 50-12 and Old Elthamians 55-10.
Birmingham Moseley will however have no complacency going into this week’s encounter as they only just returned from Lytham Saint Annes with a 22-26 win in October. Despite a good forward performance, defensive lapses saw the Midlanders only secure the win courtesy of a penalty try in the fourth quarter following scrum dominance.
It’s not just Birmingham Moseley who have come close to being turned over by Fylde, the team will have reflected on a 10-13 loss to second place Darlington Mowden Park and last weekend’s 12-14 loss to fellow strugglers Hull Ionians as ones that defiantly got away.
In a team which has only picked up two try bonus points wings Tom Carlton (7) and Tom Grimes (6) have proved to be rare glimmers of light, contributing one quarter of the team’s total points.
Birmingham Moseley will go into this weekend’s fixture feeling a sense of satisfaction having seen another strong forward performance reap rewards in very difficult conditions.
While games in such difficult conditions will never be ones likely to yield spectacular scores they can be character building for a team and that may just be what Birmingham Moseley really needed after a series of stop/start performances recently.
Saturday is the ideal opportunity to build on that experience and deliver the first back to back wins since November. If the team continues to play to their forward strengths then the double could be on the cards.
Post by Mossseeleyyyyy on Feb 17, 2018 20:44:37 GMT
What a nice change to watch a game where it wasnt raining or snowing or nearly minus degree temperature. The pack again was fantastic after the initial scare at the 1st scrum. J Le R deserved his MOM award. I for one wouldn't fancy stopping him from 5 yards out when he's at full pelt. I thought our young backs were fantastic once Tim got his red. Worked their socks off especially when we went to 13. Thought S.H at 10 showed a good maturity for a young lad. Never easy when playing over half the game a man down I thought he 'bossed' it well.
Yes agree. I thought the whole squad showed a huge amount of character when Tim went off. I am not sure what was going through his mind when he lifted the guy, who, as far as I am aware, didn’t actually have the ball!! The referee adjudicator was sitting 3 seats away from me and he said the red card was unfortunately the only option for the ref. Quite why the ref found it necessary to spend a disproportionate amount of time talking to the front rows is beyond me. In addition I was left bemused by some of his decisions as he appeared incapable of giving the crowd an idea of what exactly they were for at times. Pack we’re immense and I thought our backs played with real confidence. Can’t wait for Plymouth.
