Report: Crewe and Nantwich 20 - 8 Moseley Oak

[Communications Team]

Saturday, 07 December 2013
Aston Old Edwardians 0 - 59 Tamworth
Bridgnorth 41 - 20 Stafford
Camp Hill 13 - 18 Old Saltleians
Crewe and Nantwich 20 - 8 Moseley Oak
Leek 38 - 5 Ludlow
Willenhall 11 - 13 Wolverhampton

Midlands 2 West (North) Table

Team P W D L F A B Pts Pts
Leek 10 10 0 0 422 120 6 46
=======================
Crewe and Nantwich 10 9 0 1 339 134 6 42
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Moseley Oak 10 8 0 2 301 139 7 39
Ludlow 10 6 0 4 243 191 6 30
Bridgnorth 10 6 0 4 225 178 5 29
Old Saltleians 10 5 0 5 229 174 6 26
Tamworth 10 4 0 6 196 181 5 21
Wolverhampton 10 4 0 6 215 249 5 21
Willenhall 10 4 0 6 145 323 1 17
Camp Hill 10 2 0 8 199 279 6 14
======================
Stafford 10 2 0 8 156 241 4 12
Aston Old Edwardians 10 0 0 10 84 545 1 1

[Communications Team]

Moseley Oak showdown to follow top of the table setback
Crewe and Nantwich 20 - 8 Moseley Oak



Moseley Oak went down to a hugely disappointing defeat 20-8 at Crewe & Nantwich.

It leaves them third in the Midlands Two West (North) promotion battle trailing league leaders Leek by seven points with C&N second.

This Saturday it is Leek at Billesley Common and Moseley Oak must pick themselves up fast given the strength of their opponents who have already beaten C&N away.

If they can turn Leek over then they are firmly back in the race; lose and the task will be immense.

Frustratingly, while C&N deserved their success, they were there for the taking.

Moseley Oak’s issues though were glaring.

With regular scrum half Ed Jeffrey having to cry off injured the link from nine to ten broke down repeatedly.

Moseley Oak made far too many mistakes, decision-making was poor, opportunities were spurned, and a winnable game drifted out of reach.

It ended three tries to one with Moseley Oak conceding at bad times – early in both halves.

Yet the pack played well, strong in the loose and pushing C&N in the tight.

Sadly, apart from full back Jon Perks, who performed creditably, the three quarters never got going – wrong options, wayward passes, exposed in defence.

A lot of work required on the training ground this week.

Moseley Oak deservedly edged the first half 8-7.

Sucker punched when a burly forward broke through the middle of a scrum to set up hooker Eli Woodward to trundle home, they fought back.

First a Chris Carling penalty and then an excellent try from the hard-working Charley Thomas.

But the danger signs were there with C&N’s backs looking threatening.

The first decisive moment came almost immediately after the re-start. A spilled ball in contact had within ten seconds gone down the C&N line for Joe Gammage to get in at the corner.

For the next 25 minutes Moseley Oak were for the most part camped in the C&N half, yet unable to make it count.

And the second decisive moment arrived – pass and winger Jack McLaren was in. The pass never came.

A try then would have been a game changer.

And the inevitable happened – C&N eventually broke out and Tom Baldwin put it beyond the visitors.

It was excitement to the end as Moseley Oak threw it around in the hope of a converted try and a losing bonus point; C&N were just as eager for a fourth try and their own bonus point.

Both missed out.

Moseley Oak have now lost two on their travels.

The Leek match will not decide Moseley Oak’s season but it will go a long way.

[observer]

Big game this coming Saturday (2:15pm ko) - Moseley Oak v Leek @ Billesley.