The club is pleased to announce we will be hosting a special performance by Ugandan musician Seby Ntegy and his band in the Reddings Suite after the Rotherham game as part of his UK Tour. We are particularly privileged that Seby has agreed to perform in the Reddings Suite as we stand alongside other venues he is appearing in on tour such as Birmingham Town Hall and the Latitude & WOMAD festivals.
Post by Communications Team on Sept 19, 2018 15:50:25 GMT
Match Preview
by Glyn Barlow
This weekend it’s a warm welcome to our old friends from the Championship Rotherham Titans who visit Billesley Common for the first time since 2016. Sadly it is Rotherham’s relegation from the Greene King Championship which brings about this reunion following a very tough season which saw the Yorkshiremen win only two games.
The challenges of funding a competitive team in the Championship is one well known to Birmingham Moseley supporters, as is the impact of losing the significant amount of RFU funding on being relegated. Like Birmingham Moseley Rotherham are now going through a phase of consolidation and rebuilding having lost all but three of last season’s squad. The team have adopted a policy of looking to rebuild with a predominantly part-time squad, not unlike Birmingham Moseley’s approach.
Under new head coach Joe Barker possibly the biggest signing of the summer for Titans has been Canadian international second row Conor Keys. Other significant additions include back row Seb Nagle-Taylor from Jersey, fly Half Callum Irvine from Yorkshire Carnegie, prop Jack Bergmanas from Doncaster, Chilean international back row Anton Petrowitsch and prop Rikki Stout from Hull Ionians.
With such wholesale changes it will have been of no surprise to the Titans management that they would take some time for the young squad to find their feet. The opening weekend of the league saw a frustrating 33-34 loss to Old Elthamians. This was followed up by what was always going to be a challenging fixture at Darlington Mowden Park losing 42-19. Things clicked together however last weekend where the team recorded a 29-12 win over a strong Rosslyn Park outfit.
Having played each other on a regular basis over many seasons in the Championship it will now seem strange to both clubs that they are encountering teams who are relatively unknown to each other. Based on Titans win last week and Birmingham Moseley’s heavy loss to Bishop’s Stortford you could excuse Rotherham of feeling more confident of the result entering this game.
To say last week’s result was disappointing may be the understatement of the season so far. There can be no excuses for a team to allow 50 point to be put past them, even taking account of the disruptions due to injuries.
It is hoped this week that the coaching staff have taken the squad back to basics; cut out errors, don’t force what isn’t on, play to your strengths, look to control the ball as much as possible but most importantly find a way to raise the intensity and keep it high. Now is not the time to over-elaborate, keep to a simple plan and if it’s working then build on it with a more expansive game.
What better time for the squad to prove they have the capabilities than against Rotherham, let’s see what you can do lads.
Well I'll be there but results so far this season and the manner in which those results unfolded, suggest strongly that Moseley will lose - but hopefully not by the same margin as last week. Whatever happens we will all find out by around 4:45 on Saturday.
Post by grooveavenue on Sept 20, 2018 21:34:37 GMT
Sorry Comms Team.. can do without any kind of surprises. We need a squad ready and able to climb back with consistancy and playing to their full potential like we know they can whilst doing without short termism "surprises", for that is what your comment sounds like. Disgruntled and There As Usual on Saturday of Moseley.
Post by Communications Team on Sept 21, 2018 12:26:06 GMT
Birmingham Moseley team for tomorrow's visit of Rotherham Titans 3pm KO. Welcome back Adam Caves, Jonah Boyce & Charles Baffour on loan. Final bench position will be confirmed tomorrow.
Rotherham Titans are prepared for what is always an epic battle against midlands side Birmingham Moseley,when they travel to Billesley Common on Saturday for a 3pm kick-off in NCA Rugby: National League 1.
After Moseley suffered a huge 52-8 defeat last weekend at Bishop's Stortford, Titans expect a backlash performance from the Billesley Boys.
Games between these two sides are traditionally tight, combative affairs, where there is usually little to choose between them at the final whistle.
The last time they met was when both sides were competing in the Championship during the 2015/16 season. On that cold day in February Moseley ran out 16-11 winners at the Common; however, at the end of that campaign it was the Birmingham side which suffered relegation.
Following Rotherham’s first win of the season last week at home to Rosslyn Park, their confidence has received a boost and they feel if they can replicate that kind of performance it will give them an opportunity to register back-to-back victories.
Going into the game Rotherham have made just one change to their starting XV; as Tom Cotterill comes into the second row for the injured Canadian international Conor Keys.
Speaking ahead of the game Titans head coach, Joe Barker, explained, “It was really pleasing to get our first win of the season last week at home in front of our fans. Rosslyn Park are a very strong outfit, so to come away with an impressive win was very encouraging.
“This week we face another strong side in Birmingham Moseley; they still have some boys there who played Championship rugby with them, so we know they are an experienced team.
“We are fully aware if we want to get another win then we are going to have to go there and work hard, stick to our game plan and take our opportunities when they arrive, but I believe we are capable of doing that.”
Titans: 15 Alex Dolly, 14 Dan Leake, 13 Harry Dunne, 12 Joe Barker, 11 Henry Roberts, 10 Callum Irvine, 9 Connor Dever, 1 Jack Bergmanas, 2 Ali Thomson, 3 Rikki Stout, 4 Anton Petrowitsch, 5 Tom Cotterill, 6 Luis Ball, 7 Zak Poole, 8 Seb Nagle-Taylor (Capt).
Replacements: 16 Dan Richardson, 17 Antony Dickinson, 18 Will Dennis, 19 Dan Preston-Routledge, 20 Jamie Cooke.
Post by grooveavenue on Sept 22, 2018 10:22:37 GMT
We may be having a Guinness Book of Records moment with all of our Sams..thats worth 2 or 300 on the gate...I'm bringing one new visitor. The popularity of the name Sam has dropped considerably since Victorian times so we have probably captured a very rare occasion in history...get those cameras out.
SAM MEANING: Name of God. PERSONALITY: A kindly person who learns from mistakes and always around to help out in difficult situations.
The Urban Dictionary enlightens us much more of Sam but I'll leave that for the Sams to confirm for themselves.
