In a slightly bored moment, I thought I'd take a look at National 1 results for the season. I'm not sure the following is enlightening, but it's worth a quick look.
I've grouped the division into 4 tiers:
Top - Cambridge, Rams, Sale Second - Rosslyn Park, Plymouth, Bishops Stortford, Cinderford Third - Chinnor, Moseley, Darlington Mowden Park, Taunton, Esher Bottom - Leeds, Hull
I put Chinnor in the Moseley group because it was only in the last few weeks that they pulled away.
Home Match Pts Game Pts F A F A Top 6 12 63 82 Second 14 9 144 123 Third 16 10 128 122 Bottom 10 1 72 47
46 32 407 374
Away Match Pts Game Pts F A F A Top 0 15 53 158 Second 3 19 91 120 Third 6 14 82 105 Bottom 7 2 56 38
16 50 282 421
Total Match Pts Game Pts F A F A Diff Top 6 27 116 240 -124 Second 17 28 235 243 -8 Third 22 24 210 227 -17 Bottom 17 3 128 85 +43
62 82 689 795 -106
So, even against our own group, we conceded more match (or table) points than we scored.
Of interest in the top group, Sale managed only 8 match points away at Hull and Leeds. Bonus point wins would have seen them promoted.
I feel sure there will be many 'exoerts' casting their eyes over the seasons performances but mine eyes - not that I am an expert by any stretch of the imagination - are firmly fixed on Moseley's performances. My rear of a postage stamp thoughts are thus.
As usual Moseley performances ranged from dire to champagne brilliance; be that against consistently well performing teams such as Rams and Cambridge or others lower down the league teams
Sadly all too often we supporters witness those two extremes in the same game be it in the first or the second half. I am at a loss as to know just why?
Throughout the season I felt the Moseley handling veered between awful and incredible with a mean average in the lower half of that spectrum.
The Moseley line-out has certainly improved this season, that goes without question and if Moseley can retain the key elements there that should bode well.
I also feel the pack has been reasonably steady and quite effective and has more than held it's own throughout the season. Overall I would go so far as to say the pack dominated in quite a few games.
As with other aspects of the Moseley performnce I feel the threequarters have had quite a share of champagne moments but overall work needed to achieve consistancy, particularly in defence.
Which brings me on to matters which worry me the most and these include penalties conceded, particularly in the forwards; handling which veers from awful to sublime and a porous defence - particularly the mid-field defence - which again veers between awful and rock solid, but is generally mediocre to poor.
I also feel that certain aspects of attack play need to be examined because on more occasions than enough a 'ball handler' has died with the ball rather than keep the ball alive.
Overall, I am more than a little disappointed that Moseley, yet again, found themselves in the relegation scrap. But what makes that disappointment more uncomfortable is the fact that Moseley can and do play some super, sweep everything away spat=rkling champagne rugby - often against the best teams in the league.
And, after umpteen attempts they have finally slayed their Cinderford Nemesis.
But what of the future?
Moseley have a good core of players, that goes without question and, in my view we do not need to import too much new blood, after all we do have have a first class pack and team leader; a scrum half who punches well above his weight for a 'liitle one'; and pace out wide.
For me though I would like to see another good, reliable, long distance penalty line kicker, someone in the form of the former Martin Cooper who could regularly kick 75 yards penalty kicks, even under pressure AND the ball would go into touch.
So what woud I like to see next season. For certain I would lile to see a more consistent performance. Moseley can play a good standard of rugby, but Moseley do not consistently play a good standard of rugby and have not done so for a number of seasons now.
This suggests there is constant, underlying factor at Moseley which needs to be addressed. But that is the conundrum. What is it and how is it addressed?
Come on Moooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooose
I'd like to see this squad given another season. Older,wiser comes to mind but with the proviso that if the "right" quality becomes available within the player budget they are welcomed aboard.