Birmingham Moseley 36-41 DMP

[Communications Team]

Big Match Preview by Glyn Barlow

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Last weekend the team came close to securing their first away win of the season but unfortunately the game slipped away from them in the last quarter as Old Elthamians scored fourteen points to finish winners 38-27, denying Birmingham Moseley even a losing bonus point.


Attention must now turn to the visit of a Darlington Mowden Park team which just secured victory over Rosslyn Park 34-33 last weekend, via a 79th minute try from replacement wing Joshua Hall. The result saw the team finish September with a won 3 lost 2 record. Starting the season positively with wins over Bishop’s Stortford 23-26 and Rotherham Titans 42-19 the team faltered against Old Elthamians 32-22 and Blackheath 15-0.


Having finished 2017/18 in a convincing second place with only six losses all season you would forgive DMP for being a bit disappointed with their 60% success rate to date, certainly they have not yet replicated their form of last season. With a number of players on the injury list so far this month the coaching staff will be hoping for a few returnees to improve fortunes.


Last season Birmingham Moseley suffered a brace of defeats at the hands of the men from Durham. September saw a 17-31 defeat at home followed by a 42-7 loss in January.


During the summer months Darlington Mowden Park have drafted in a number of new players including Glasgow Warriors back row George Stokes, front row Charley Purkiss-McKendoo from Harrogate, Kiwi fly half Pera Gibbs, wing Ollie Walker and prop Tristan Grant from Tynedale, Cypriot international full back Chris Georgiou from REC Rennes in France’s Federale 1 league and hooker Jordon Poole from Yorkshire Carnegie.


It is a more established player, South African fly half Warren Seals who is currently leading the way on scoring points for the club via his goal kicking with the aforementioned Georgiou providing try scoring support. Darlington Mowden Park have demonstrated that they are not, however, a team reliant on one or two players to pick up tries with fourteen different players crossing the whitewash in the five games to date.


Turning attention to Birmingham Moseley, despite a better performance last Saturday than earlier in the month the team still conspired to throw away an opportunity to win. With a game being dominated up front in most phases by Moseley’s pack it is not unreasonable to have expected a win. Unfortunately the team were guilty again of making unforced errors which allowed the opposition to pull back and overhaul them.


This error count coupled with a lack of focus and intensity over the full game time has cost the team dearly so far this campaign. If this can be resolved, and it is a question of mind-set not physical condition etc, then we will see the results that are sorely needed come the team’s way.


Against Rotherham the previous week they played a pragmatic, sound tactical game, around forward strengths. This probably needs to be the approach adopted while the team irons out the error count and regains their confidence.


With a Darlington Mowden Park team also looking to find form this could be an ideal opportunity to get the show back on the road.

[nobby]

We shall see but I will set my expectations very low from the kick off. That way they can but go up rather than down.

[Phil]

[Phil]

Owen, Dodd & Tonks Dual Registered from Worcester.

[Phil]

[owain]

Welcome to new loanees Kai Owen, Tom Dodd and Mason Tonks!

Kai Owen is a Loose Head Prop who has moved into Worcester's Senior Academy this season. Last year, as part of the Junior Academy he had 7 A league appearances and scored one try. Kai has started both A league games so far this season.


Tom Dodd is a Number 8. Starting his third season in Worcester's Academy, Dodd has also played five times for Scotland Under 20s in the U20s Six Nations and U20s World Championship. He played three games for the first XV in 2017/18, and was ever-present in the A league, scoring three tries in ten appearances. Dodd played in Monday's second A League fixture of the season, scoring an intercept try.

According to his Worcester Bio, he spent time at Mose last year as well as Stourbridge, although I can't say I recall him featuring in a match day squad, nor does he have a listing on the Mose website player profiles for 2017/18.


Mason Tonks is a winger who has moved to Worcester after being released from Gloucester's academy over the summer. Having played over the summer for both Worcester and England Academy's Sevens sides, Tonks obviously has a fair amount of pace, backed up by him recording a 11.4 second 100m and a 22.7 second 200m whilst in college in 2014. Tonks has played in both A league fixtures so far this season, scoring a late try in Monday's fixture against Wasps A team.

[Phil]

Momentum the key as Birmingham Moseley aim to protect home front

[grooveavenue]

Now does our 2 at Worcester last Monday make sense.....a colaboration!

[brighty]

I think if you read earlier in the year both james Williams and lewis bean were pre season and linked to Worcester hence turning out for them.
it might have been the sweetener for james to come back and lewis to stay

[Communications Team]

Unfortunately Tom Dodd has had to pull out of tomorrow’s squad so Jacques Le Roux comes in on the bench

[Deleted]

Oct 5, 2018 18:20:36 GMT Communications Team said:

Unfortunately Tom Dodd has had to pull out of tomorrow’s squad so Jacques Le Roux comes in on the bench

Shame Tom has pulled out but good to have Jacques on the field.

[kingsheathlad]

What sickner.we should have drawn and may be could have won it. Strange decisions by ref. Our kicking out of hand not great and some injuries again.
Down to the capital again next two tough games.
Some interesting results elsewhere.
Come on Mose..........

[Deleted]

Refs do a great job in difficult circumstances. It's the most technical deport to ref in. Occasionally they make mistakes and we have to live with them.

Having said that today's was well below expectations. Ignoring touch judges and taking no action whatsoever on a clear high dangerous tackle were just 2 of the poor decisions.

The team played well generally. Some excellent play. Disappointing not to come away with a win

[CJB1]

We need to work on tackles - missed ones cost us tries, and ultimately the game. Also we need to decide what we're doing with our kicking game - either we need to kick deep to turn their defence round, or shorter so we can chase and compete. Kicking down the throat of the opposition is not the best option. This applies both to box kicks from behind the ruck, and to kicks from the back line. And how about kicking for long touches, other than from penalties? I know RL fans deride what they call "kick and clap", but a decent touchfinder to pin the oppo back in their own half has a lot to be said for it.

Handling errors were fewer this week, this is something that has cost us dear, and evidently is being worked on.

One thing I observed early on, was that the DMP players when tackled, always tried to pirouette out of the tackle - not always successfully, thankfully. I don't see our players doing the same, they tend to take the tackle and go to ground. Is it not something we practice?

Agree that the ref was dreadful, and I understand that his assessor was not impressed. He may find himself reffing at a lower level in the coming weeks, but that doesn't help us now.

We're very vulnerable at 2 if Cavesy has to go off. His replacement today is not up to the job, sorry but it has to be said. The sooner Ryan Roach and Joe Roe are returned to fitness the better. Jamie White needs to learn his craft at a less demanding level.

Aaron Crofts reckoned he'd be fit to return in a week or two. Joe Wrafter didn't look too bad. The sooner we have something like a full squad to pick from the better. But Ollie Allsopp hobbled off today and it didn't look good.

Can't make it to The Rock, so will be checking Twitter. Please make me a happy follower.

[dingle]

Close match today with winning try going to the visitors in the last play of the game.  Welcome back to Waggy!

More pics at:
www.dingleimages.com (16 images uploaded)
www.harishchavda.zenfolio.com -for higher resloution viewing and image purchase option (104 images uploaded)

[notanotherjohn]

I was gutted when that final try went over. A bonus point draw throw away. But CBJ1 hit nail in first few words, missed tackles and poor kicking.

But first game I have managed this season and not as distressing as I feared. Onwards and a bit upwards!

[andyj]

I felt so sorry for the guys after another whole hearted performance. Yes we did miss tackles and we kicked far too much ball away but for me the spirit of the squad shone through.
I know it is a cheap shot but the ref and both touch judges were the worst I have seen in several seasons. I would seriously doubt 3 of Darlington’s tries particularly the first where,from where I was sitting,the guy never grounded the ball. Can someone please explain to me why Darlington were allowed to play on when the touch judge clearly signaled by raising his flag?
The coach on the Darlington bench found their first try highly amusing!!!

[martinwatson aka Camera Shake]

With regards to the first DMP try, the referee said he saw the grounding and then asked touchie if there had been any separation or if he had stayed in contact with the ball, all the way down.

Touchie replied "From the position I'm coming from, I've not got a clear and obvious whether it's gone forward or not."

Referee then asked if there was any reason he could not award the try.

Touchie replied No reason, and the rest we all know.

I leave it to others more knowledgeable than me, as to whether, in the circumstances, the officials carried out the correct protocol.

[andyj]

Oct 7, 2018 8:17:34 GMT andyj said:

away but for me the spirit of the squad shone through.
ICan someone please explain to me why Darlington were allowed to play on when the touch judge clearly signaled by raising his flag?

I should add that I didn’t see the ref signal an advantage in fact several people in the stand shouted for forward pass.

[jones]

Because I live a distance away, this was the first game I have managed this season (whilst following the results and commentary with dismay!) But like AndyJ, I was hugely encouraged by the performance and commitment shown by the boys. To put 36 points on DMP is no mean feat. I can't comment of the validity of the DMP tries but it was clear that with just a bit more game management in the dying minutes, we could have come away with 3 rather than 2 points. It's great to see Moseley stalwarts like Waggy and Ollie working with the lads. What we need is to do a job at Rosslyn Park next week - with this level of commitment I'm very optimistic. Come on Mose!!

[nobby]

The subject which keeps cropping up, time and again, is game management. I spoke to a number of players after the match yesterday and to a man they expected a 'stick it your jumper'after Moseley drew level. Indeed one player even told our number 9 and 10 NOT to kick the ball underany circumstances. What happened is history. I only saw 3/4 of the match but from what I saw the DMP backs they were very dangerous and slippery whenever they had the ball - so why give it to them in the first place.

When a match is slowed down to protect a lead or even a draw as was the case yesterday - although when Moseley had the 7 point lead they should have protected that lead at that point - the pace of the game also slows down. Defensive game management, unlike champagne rugby, is not done at speed, quite the opposite. It requires a slow, patient and methodical approach and a pace that will conserve energy, even at the expense of just going side to side. Hopefully that defensive - not defending - tactic could create frustration within the opposition who might even be forced into conceding penalties - and if that happens and a sitter 3 points is on offer then that could be worth taking - so long as the restart is secured.

There is a time for champagne rugby and there is another time for cheep plonk rugby. Either can be the format of a game, as can a mixture of both and when they are executed to a respectable standard they can add to the entertaining factor of the game. Interestingly Moseley can, when circumstances permit, play champagne rugby - just look how their last try was a fantastic interception supported by clinical execution - much better than they can manage games and that, the latter, the inability to manage games, is turning out to be their Achilles heel.

[grooveavenue]

Well said nobby. We all know that its our forwards and 'PLONK' rugby that is our strength - as per 4 tries for Cavesy last time at home and I am always screeming for us to hold onto the ball and the champagne rugby can wait. Mason had a big input from the touchline passing on instructions and being totally involved with enthusiasm. Good to hear and see!

[kingsheathlad]

The yellow card was unnecessary after a trip,and did they score two of their tries when we were down to 14.

[Phil]

Birmingham Moseley 36 Darlington M P 41: Leaky defence proving costly, admits skipper

[vic257]

We're very vulnerable at 2 if Cavesy has to go off. His replacement today is not up to the job, sorry but it has to be said. The sooner Ryan Roach and Joe Roe are returned to fitness the better. Jamie White needs to learn his craft at a less demanding level..

In regards to this comment, White was brought in as a development player with a view to improve during the season with game time, unfortunately due to 2 serious injuries he’s been called up for a full time replacement. He has represented England Counties U18s during March 2018 where he excelled exceptionally and is now embarking on his first men’s season.
Unfortunately 10 minutes a game is not enough for us to see what this young man can do, so before we judge a young 18 year old for the odd 10 minutes in what can only be described as an intimidationg situation, let’s support and encourage this youngster for seasons to come.

[grooveavenue]

Well said vic257. Jamies anger and frustration on his early replacement was clear to see from my vantage point. To me this reaction can only bear well for the future - if we have young players itching to get out there and contribute. He'll get his chance and we'll all be with him as he develops and makes the 1st XV his home. Good luck...oh! and a little matter of 5 points next Saturday please...