You all did such an amazing job with raising £538 in cash and bags loads of food in January for the Kingsheath Food Bank that we'd like to ask another big favour.
This time the foodbank is desperate for Easter eggs for local children. Do you know that for the price of a pint you can get two Easter eggs!
The MSA will be collecting the Easter eggs at the next home game against Plymouth Albion on Saturday 23rd March 2024.
If you can, please bring an Easter egg or two along to the game.
Yay - Aquile's back! Also yay - a conventional prop-hooker-prop front row! Also also yay - Ryan's back on the bench! Hmm - still having to put a second row in at blindside.
I don't make it over all that often since I live some distance away. The first match I saw was the early loss against Sedgley Park - after which alarm bells were seriously ringing. But then we've seen a succession of strong performances which have taken us to third - now fourth - in the league. And then last week and today! I thought Plymouth seemed motivated and organised and more than deserved their victory. By contrast we failed to gain any real toehold in the game and what advantage we had was squandered through errors and penalties - and the inevitable yellow card. I dread to think how many penalties we gave away - someone will have counted them. And we looked so flat. Can anyone offer an explanation?!
Post by kingsheathlad on Mar 23, 2024 19:18:27 GMT
Unfortunately that was one of the worst games at home I have seen in a long time.never in the game and half time score flattered us.penalty count high.i thought our passing in the backs was poor.
Post by Westcountry Mose on Mar 23, 2024 20:31:39 GMT
Mrs WCM had a ticket for the theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon today. I was intending to catch the train to Yardkey Wood and come to attend the match. However, I had a feeling today was not going to be a good one for Mose and instead walked from Bidford to Stratford. Glad I did looking at the postings. Bullet dodged for me. Now back home drinking Sandford Orchards cider. Well, here’s to next season.
I always try to look for positives and todays positive was we didn’t lose by a 30+ margin. We looked like a side playing it’s first game together, we were completely flat. Plymouth didn’t have to do a great deal to win that game. Some of the penalties we gave away were just total lack of discipline and professionalism. There was no leader on the pitch, we were devoid of any ideas or cohesion. I am thinking of reporting Moseley under the Trades Description Act for that performance today. Having said all that I am basing it on what we have done and the standards we have set this season so far which has been really positive. If someone had told me after the first two games where we conceded almost 100 points that with 4 games to go, we would be in 3rd place I would I would have called for the men in white coats. I believe we have had a really good season played some good rugby with a good core of players. However, we are in serious danger of our season ending on a low and finishing in mid table mediocracy which would be a shame and detract from the really a positive season and the improvements we have made. I know mid table mediocracy would have been a blessed relief the last couple of seasons, but not this season.
With a more recognisable team than last week I was looking forward to a close contest. In tricky conditions, we seemed to hang on until half time and I was hoping for an improvement playing downhill with the wind more or less behind.
We didn't seem able to take advantage and when Plymouth scored a second try it felt like that was game over. Little invention, too many errors, shame if this very good season just fades away with challenging fixtures ahead.
That was exceedingly poor yesterday. The warning signs were there early when Mose opted to take an easy three points rather than show ambition by kicking to the corner. Defence was good in the first half although Plymouth should have been much further ahead at half time than 3-5.
Having worked so hard earlier in the season, Mose were pinged time and again for the high tackle. The referee might have done us a favour if he had given a warning and then issued a yellow card early in the first half. Penalty after penalty conceded and Mose just didn't learn. The eventual yellow card could easily have been red in my one shot view, but the referee obviously saw mitigation.
Credit to Plymouth; their first try was nicely worked and although they were workman-like with plenty of errors of their own, they were never under anything resembling sustained pressure.
The three remaining games are tough on paper but will be no contests if Mose perform like that again. There is a real prospect of finishing off with five consecutive defeats if things don't improve.
Those three remaining games are an opportunity to set markers for next season. The win against Cinderford made Mose mathematically safe, but yesterday it seemed that several players' minds were already on the beach. Plymouth had nothing to play for yesterday either, but, by and large, they applied themselves well to the task in hand.
The resilience which has been such a feature of Mose this season, was lacking yesterday. The coaches need to make sure that this was a one-off, a bad day at the office rather than a sign of things to come.
It wasn't great on Saturday was it ? Not sure on the number of penalties given away but it can't be far off the 20 mark. High tackles seemed to be a problem. There's a few players who have played a lot of minutes and we look flat and tired. The scrum was fine, lineout on the whole was ok, although the wind made it tricky throwing in for both sides. The backline just didn't function, we won loads of ball but time after time there was a pass that went down or we tried the miracle offload when we didn't need to. The turning point was when we had scrums on their 5m line and couldn't get over. If we'd have scored then I think we'd have won. Plymouth found gaps out wide all too easily as well. A floated ball over the top and they were nearly in a couple of times, then scored.
4th is still there for the taking. We can beat Richmond away after a much needed break. The last two games, no reason why we can't at least match Chinnor and Rams. I suspect Chinnor can clinch promotion if they win with a bonus point.
Can’t argue with any of the above. Penalty count was ridiculously high. I looked to the coaches for some guidance but they were strangely quiet. The Plymouth coaches were far more animated. We played poorly at Blackheath and I expected a bounce back but it didn’t happen. A previous message asked what has changed. I agree that some players looked tired. Both Ollie and Aquile were subdued. Ethan and David did well and held the pack together. Line out was okay but I would question the sense in throwing to the back of the line 5 metres out with the vagaries of the wind. Speed and accuracy of Jack’s passing was not good. Overall I think we really missed the experience of Ollie and Ben. It is wrong when we have to rely on 2 players. Will Safe tried very hard but I got the impression he was carrying an injury as he pulled up on a number of occasions. We simply don’t have the strength in depth. On a more positive note I ,once again, thought Dan Brough was outstanding. He put in at least 2 try saving tackles. The Rugby Paper named him Man of the Match and deservedly so. Why he is not first choice 15 is beyond me. Personally I would play Sam at 9. If injuries persist I wonder if we will be looking at loan players. Off to Richmond hoping for a better performance.
I think the main thing is not to panic. Ok, it's 2 losses but it's so much better than last season, where we are now. Also, we need to understand that regardless of where we in the table, these next 3 games were never going to be easy, even at full strength. I don't think you can underestimate the loss of 2 of our most experienced and savvy operators in the back row, both from a playing and a leadership perspective.
Richmond away won't be easy and Chinnor/Rams at home, whilst it's an opportunity to test ourselves against the 2 best teams in the league, will be difficult, given Chinnor will probably need a bonus point win to clinch top spot. If Rams are out of it by the final game they may not have anything to play for, except pride and they'll want to finish the season on a high.
So my point is, if we were to end up 4th or 5th, we shouldn't forget that it's been a really good season.
It is Sunday morning now as I start these ‘thoughts’ and I still feel so sad following yet again another inept, lack-lustre Moseley performance yesterday; a performance so full of negative content, which in my view, completely overwhelms any attempt to give any note-worthy constructive comment at all, however sublime and subtle that comment may be, something which is well-nigh impossible for a proud Yorkshire lad like me.
Although the subject matter, in this case the abject Moseley performance against Plymouth yesterday, may understandably draw destructive criticism from some quarters, we loyal supporters should always try to look for positives; not an easy option after a second and unexpected depressing downturn performance by our beloved Moseley team.
I feel it may help me to be ‘constructive’ rather than ‘destructive’ if I look for performance comparisons this season and whilst some were not won, they were otherwise commendable performances, for example away to Rams; then home to Taunton; followed by Darlington MP; Sale; Cinderford; Chinnor; Richmond; Rosslyn Park; Bishop Stortford.
In some of those games where the forwards dominated the tight, the loose and the line-out and where the backs were able to demonstrate their champagne moments, it was a pleasure to watch them play. Moreover, for the analytical mind, one could see the benefits of structured play, something which has been lacking for many a season of late. And here the essential factors were key players who, as one coach told me ‘glued’ together the team performance.
Sadly the glue came unstuck yet again yesterday when the team lacked overall direction; too many players did not have the first idea what was expected of them; passing and ball retention was awful throughout the team, as was the horrendous discipline which culminated in the seemingly obligatory yellow card which rather unfortunately added insult to an injured player. This regular, self inflicted insult to the loyal Moseley supporters must stop.
We, the club Moseley and you the Moseley squad have the player quality, that is beyond doubt. We/you have the coaches and that too is increasingly beyond doubt. We/you also have the physio support. We/you have the analysts. We/you have also proved time and again, this season alone, that you everything that other successful teams in this league have. You have and always will have the loyal Moseley supporters. So just what is missing? I can think of just one key element, self-belief.
Self-belief can be as individual as a drop of rain, a snowflake or ray of sunshine. On the other hand it and more to the point, the lack of it, plus the accompanying lack of discipline can be as destructive as a downpour, a snow storm or blazing sunshine. So come on Moseley players. Pool your individual skills, play to the strengths you undoubtedly possess. Support and encourage each other at all times, particularly those who occasionally struggle. Most of all, use the approaching Easter Spirit to rekindle and re-embrace your collective spirit of self-belief and end the season in a glorious blaze of awe and wonder. You deserve it. We loyal supporters deserve it.
Come on Moooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooose
I can only heartily endorse dag's sentiments above. Having continued to ponder the performance over the past few days, It does seem to me that the issue of leadership is key and that there were times when the team needed that galvanising effect of strong on field leadership to raise heads and find that crucial element of motivation and direction. As we know, that can be a mysterious thing and can never really be guaranteed. But one thing's for sure, as so many performances this season have proved, we have the talent and commitment and just need to ignite it again. I feel confident that with such an array of talent in the side we just need to flick a switch and will be back to form for the final games of the season - testing though they will no doubt be.
Come on Moooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooose indeed!
1 Ollie Steadman - Leadership overall play 2 What is the use of having Freddie Painter on the bench for 70 - 75 minutes then bringing him on when the game is over. What we needed was him on after 55 - 60 minutes get the backs going , his sniping runs and pace but no he's sat getting splinters out of his behind. 3 Plymouth were quicker, more mobile, bigger and better organised, they had a plan and kept to it we basically didn't seem to have a clue.
All I know is, the world hasn't ended and the sun still comes up in the morning (well sometimes !). I'll just put it out there that, if we had everyone fit and firing and confidence was high, these next 3 games would be difficult. Rams & Chinnor in particular are clearly the best 2 sides in the league. We matched them on their own patch, especially Chinnor - I still can't understand what that final penalty to them was for ! At Rams we played some great rugby. Do you know what....we may not win those games, I'm just saying it. Discipline has been a problem, agreed. It hasn't improved. To say that the players don't have a clue what's expected of them is unfair and wrong. Maybe a bit more composure. We too often looked for the miracle off-load/pass vs Plymouth and instead of clearing our lines, on occasion, we tried to run the ball out of our own 22. Plymouth just soaked it up. I sound like a broken record, regardless of what happens next, it's been a good season.
Post by kingsheathlad on Mar 28, 2024 17:32:04 GMT
Agree Banjo.At times in a season team can lose confidence if game plan not working, but on the whole it has been had been good and I have enjoyed it more than other seasons in this league. Come on Mose.....
It might be a wee bit premature but I hope Moseley retain most if not all of their good players for next season. And if we cah attract a couple of good players as well - preferably ones who rarely, if ever concede penalties, then all the better.
Unfortunately for him and team Morgan Dawes hasn't Ben able to play this season with long term lay off after operation and I think Obano has played two games and no update as far as I know on his bad injury.
Unfortunately for him and team Morgan Dawes hasn't Ben able to play this season with long term lay off after operation and I think Obano has played two games and no update as far as I know on his bad injury.
I spoke to Harley over a month ago at a home game and he told me Obano has retired from rugby due to the severity of his neck injury sustained early in the season.
Actually Obano's was early last season. Sad, as he showed much promise.
Agreed that last week's performance lacked sparkle, but it's the exception this season, more common in previous years.
We've had a number of tight finishes. The difference with Chinnor and Rams is that they will close out those matches; we are not far off, maybe next season we can take the learning.
Hopefully the strong season will make recruitment/strengthening a little easier. And if Leicester Lions go down, I wonder if their 10 would be available?
