I'm sure we'll get team news and a preview in due course, but the important stuff first - does anyone know what the food and beer are like in the clubhouse?
And looking over on Rolling Maul, the majority are predicting a Cinderford victory, though few go as far as 5 league pts to 0. I think we may surprise them. Cinderford have lost their last four league fixtures, while we've won three of our last four - so I suggest that we seem to have found some form, while they've gone off the boil. No room for complacency, though, they beat us at Billesley in September. We owe them one back.
I'm sure we'll get team news and a preview in due course, but the important stuff first - does anyone know what the food and beer are like in the clubhouse?
I went a few years ago and they did hot food then,can`t recall what beers were on ,spacious clubhouse.
Post by Communications Team on Dec 21, 2018 14:58:52 GMT
Match preview
By Glyn Barlow
How good it is to end 2018 with a match preview reflecting on three wins in the last month, as Birmingham Moseley travel to Gloucestershire this weekend off the back of a 15-6 win over Cambridge.
Not only did the team overcome their opposition they overcome some of the worst weather at the Common in many a season. It was not the day to be a wing, with freezing conditions making handling the ball a real challenge, yet the team recorded two tries against one of the toughest defences in the league, while shutting Cambridge out.
In such atrocious conditions it called for the pack to take the ascendancy against a big Cambridge eight, with Lewis Bean to the fore, making the hard yards needed. The scrum proved to be a dominant platform to work off, with the lineout, challenged by the strong wind, being the only blemish on the afternoon’s efforts.
This week’s opponents sit ninth, four places above Birmingham Moseley, but only two league points separate them so close is the league at present. Following a promising opening to the season which included a 23-24 last gasp win at Billesley Common recent weeks have been more challenging.
Last weekend Cinderford fell to Darlington Mowden Park 10-7, as part of a run of losses including Old Elthamians 12-32, Rotherham Titans 20-3, Bishop’s Stortford 0-11. With a 22 all draw against Blackheath Cinderford must look back to the beginning of November for their last victory over Caldy 31-38.
The scores of the last four games underline the problem Cinderford face in racking up points, averaging only five points a game. A situation which leaves them with the lowest points total in the league. In compensation though they demonstrate a solid defensive effort to frustrate opposition scoring against them.
If Birmingham Moseley are to finish 2018 on a high then we will need to see the sort of defensive organisation and effort that has been the foundation of recent weeks results coupled with the new found cutting edge in the backline.
This game is the ideal opportunity to draw a positive line under this year and provide the springboard for a charge up the league in 2019.
It only leaves me to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous (and points filled) New Year.
Good to see Ryan back involved! Looking forward to the trip tomorrow.
Do I take it that neither Nick nor Alex are available again?
No as they are playing in the Premiership Shield for Worcester. The current round of matches finish on the 30th so I'd hope to see them back in the new year.
Post by kingsheathlad on Dec 22, 2018 17:40:41 GMT
Very disappointing.We were never in the game,lacked any up and go,no penetration,slow ball and our two scores were penalty tries. Oh well end to a dissapointing year ,here's to 2019. Have an enjoyable Christmas and New Year.
We appear to have learnt absolutely nothing from the first time we played them. Their tactic from the start was to boss us up front and their line out and rolling maul worked just as well as it did at our place. We were 19:0 down after 20 mins. We simply did not turn up for the first 30 mins. The heroics from last week were a dim and distant memory. Tackling at times was poor and their number 14 waltzed through 5 attempted tackles to set up a try in the second half. On our day we could “murder” sides like this - today wasn’t that day. One bright point - Ryan Roach came on during the second half and played well and our line out improved.
Basic passing at times was very poor, either too short or too long, not to the target, giving away far too many penalties because of knock-ons was the result.
To all those losing the faith we'll learn more from these defeats than any victories with long term injuries clearing up the second half of the season will be ok.Ok.positive thinking.spread the word.simple really
There MUST be a reason why Moseley are so inconsistent - but I do not know why. I thought there were only two variants on consistent - good and bad, with mediocre being a possible neutral - but Moseley seem to have found another consistently, ie constantly inconsistent.
We appear to have learnt absolutely nothing from the first time we played them. Their tactic from the start was to boss us up front and their line out and rolling maul worked just as well as it did at our place. We were 19:0 down after 20 mins. We simply did not turn up for the first 30 mins. The heroics from last week were a dim and distant memory. Tackling at times was poor and their number 14 waltzed through 5 attempted tackles to set up a try in the second half. On our day we could “murder” sides like this - today wasn’t that day. One bright point - Ryan Roach came on during the second half and played well and our line out improved.
When Tom Fidler came on the set scrum stabilised, but this is at the cost of mobility in the front row, and it still doesn't fix our lack of ability to defend the driving maul, from which three of their tries came. Conversely, when we tried it, they were well prepared (perhaps a bit early with their push) and drove us into touch. Our runners generally didn't come onto the ball with any speed (Jacques le Roux being a notable exception), and we had trouble breaking their line.
We must await injury news on Buster, who went off just before half time and was seen hobbling off on crutches. Thankfully le Roux did well coming on as his replacement.
Believers in Karma will note that both Harry Hone and James Elliot scored against their old side. C'est la vie.
beermonster…..now will Buster be out for sometime ? Hopefully Croft, Moloney and Tideswell will be returning SOOOOOOOOOON? Will Army Rugby call up our rugby soldiers for their 8 match + 5 days training in Portugal, commencing late Jan ? Is Mr Caves at the end of his spell here ? -as I cannot find original notice on web of Adam's arrival (mid Sept?) and if any short term contract applied?
Part 2 of our adventure starts Jan 5 - Be There Or...…………..!?
I agree with CJB1 that the Moseley driving maul - generally speaking - needs a lot to be desired. For example against the Plymouth driving maul Moseley had no defence whatsoever yet Plymouth easily defended - and disrupted - the Moseley driving maul almost at will. Now why would that be? Perhaps I could proffer some thoughts - primarily based upon my observations at the Plymouth game.
When Plymouth took a line-out, particularly near the line, I noticed the catcher - even after he had caught the ball - was held up which gave Plymouth a head start in putting the 1st blocks in place, ie the 'props', then any two 'second row', then a 'number eight' namely the hooker, to form a 'mini scrum' well before they lowered the catcher down. With the 'mini scrum' set the lowered Plymouth catcher became the key to 'locking' the scrum and the drive was instantly on.
I feel the reason why they had the time to set up the 'mini scrum' was because it is illegal for any defending side to make any attempt whatsoever to interfere with the ball catcher whilst he was still 'in the air' so those few seconds were vital.
Too often Moseley, by contrast, were still forming the 'mini scrum' when the lifter had descended which meant that Plymouth could start defending and disrupt the maul before it was fully formed.
Of course there is always the option, if I am correct, for the defending side not to make any effort to defend a catch and drive at all, but 'stand off', as it were, which can negate an attacking line-out.
But then these are the darker secrets of line-out play, secrets to which I and many others are not privy to.
