Birmingham Moseley 17-27 Blackheath

[Communications Team]

by Glyn Barlow

After an enforced weeks break due to a frozen pitch Birmingham Moseley welcome third place Blackheath to Billesley Common.

The oldest open club in rugby is currently making a strong push for promotion just eight points away from table toppers Old Elthamians.

Last weekend though an unexpected home 22-27 loss to mid table Cambridge saw 24 of Cambridge’s points scored unanswered in the second half. Had Blackheath been getting advice on match strategies from the French national team?

This result came on the back of two further defeats to Rosslyn Park 28-22 and Ampthill 26-31. With a further loss to Plymouth Albion 27-32 in the first weekend of January 2019 has not been kind to the Londoners, their only win of the year being over Darlington Mowden Park 24-29.

Clearly having only lost three other games in the whole of the 2018 part of the 2018/19 season you can expect Blackheath will feel it is vital to stop the New Year slide backwards this weekend. If the team are to pose a threat to Birmingham Moseley they will be looking to prodigious try scorer Jake Lloyd at wing to lead the way having scored fourteen to date.

When the two teams met in October at Well Hall Birmingham Moseley suffered one of many narrow losses this season going down 30-26

This fixture represents the latest in a series of games in 2019 against tough opposition. Unfortunately despite very good performances the vital “W” in the result column has eluded them through games against 5th Place Rotherham Titans 21-20, league leaders Old Elthamians 10-14 and in their last outing a 17-17 draw up at Darlington Mowden Park.

Surely the fates must swing their way some time?

Well to be honest fate has nothing to do with it. The team has made great strides to improve from early season, supported by key players returning from injury. It is now a case on pushing forward with improved game management. The team needs to develop that mind-set which is bred by the confidence of winning. The conundrum is getting the wins to bring the confidence.

If this Saturday they can develop a ruthless edge to their performance then they can secure a vital win, which could just be the springboard needed to make a drive up the league.

[Communications Team]

[Phil]

Guy Toye is a new signing, a prop from Cheltenham Saracens.

[bradyboy]

Where’s the other prop tyack

[Phil]

Feb 8, 2019 13:39:20 GMT bradyboy said:

Where’s the other prop tyack

Currently injured.

[CJB1]

Feb 8, 2019 13:58:26 GMT Phil said:

Feb 8, 2019 13:39:20 GMT bradyboy said:

Where’s the other prop tyack

Currently injured.

Potentially out for the season.

[kingsheathlad]

That`s a big blow, our scrum has been doing so well recently.

[Phil]

Feb 8, 2019 14:04:26 GMT CJB1 said:

Feb 8, 2019 13:58:26 GMT Phil said:

Currently injured.

Potentially out for the season.

4 weeks I've been told.

[andyj]

When is James Tideswell likely to be available?

[Phil]

Feb 8, 2019 21:48:46 GMT andyj said:

When is James Tideswell likely to be available?

He may have a few minutes for Oak tomorrow so not far away.

[Phil]

[andyj]

Well the number of messages post Mose losing 17:27 is deafening.
We started the game with real purpose and a rolling maul nearly gave us a try within minutes. This was followed by an attack from Blackheath which resulted in a fairly routine try. Mose came back and scored out wide with a great move.
Generally it was an even first half with the opposition edging it at 12:15.
Blackheath came out in the second half with different tactics and we struggled to gain possession.
Playing down the slope we should have had an advantage particularly with a gusting wind but we didn’t get into gear until the final minutes when we chased 2 points camped on their line which ended with us knocking the ball on (hasn’t this happened before?).
I came away from the ground feeling particularly depressed as, quite frankly, Blackheath are not a great side and we should have won.
May I make a point - yes we lost and got no points from the game but the lads gave everything. Why then do so called supporters effectively shun the team by clearing out of the stand and, in the main, not at least clap the guys off the pitch.
Having supported Mose for over 25 years I have experienced the good times but also the bad. Yes we are in the bottom 2 but the squad need our support and in my opinion we do this by recognising their commitment and clap them when the game is over irrespective of the result.

[anonymous]

I'd agree that Blackheath weren't a great side but their line-out was streets ahead of ours and they were more than a match for us in the tight.   The use of the wrap around move with multiple blockers decoy runners caused a few problems for us.   

I don't think anyone doubts the lad's commitment, the bonus points speak for themselves but so does the league table as we move into late season.    

Personally I found the last 50-odd minutes today massively frustrating - kicking to the corners but losing the lineouts, getting shoved off the ball, being endlessly penalised by the referee.   The man with the whistle wasn't the reason we lost but when you need to catch a break you don't need some of the decisions that went against us today.    

The Sale game next week is pivotal now.

[nobby]

As expected Moseley lost as Blackheath gave Moseley an ruthless lesson in game management - particularly in the last 10 minutes. I feel sure it would benefit Moseley to study the whole game - particularly the second half when Blackheath played to their strength, the forwards - and learn from it. It might be too late for this season but it could be helpful for next season.

Come on Mooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooose

[petespan]

Feb 9, 2019 21:31:36 GMT andyj said:

Well the number of messages post Mose losing 17:27 is deafening.
We started the game with real purpose and a rolling maul nearly gave us a try within minutes. This was followed by an attack from Blackheath which resulted in a fairly routine try. Mose came back and scored out wide with a great move.
Generally it was an even first half with the opposition edging it at 12:15.
Blackheath came out in the second half with different tactics and we struggled to gain possession.
Playing down the slope we should have had an advantage particularly with a gusting wind but we didn’t get into gear until the final minutes when we chased 2 points camped on their line which ended with us knocking the ball on (hasn’t this happened before?).
I came away from the ground feeling particularly depressed as, quite frankly, Blackheath are not a great side and we should have won.
May I make a point - yes we lost and got no points from the game but the lads gave everything. Why then do so called supporters effectively shun the team by clearing out of the stand and, in the main, not at least clap the guys off the pitch.
Having supported Mose for over 25 years I have experienced the good times but also the bad. Yes we are in the bottom 2 but the squad need our support and in my opinion we do this by recognising their commitment and clap them when the game is over irrespective of the result.


............................


Support the lads during the game of course but clapping afterwards won’t keep us up!? ... it didn’t keep us in the championship ... it didn’t get us up last year (or the year before!?) ... maybe if we all clap enough we will be transported back to the 1970’s and this nightmare won’t be happening? Or we’ll get “clapping points” and fly up the league?

Ive said it on here before but where is the anger? Where is the concern? The outrage? Are we supposed to clap like seals as we slide down the league and games are running out? 

Clap, clap and clap again while our great club declines!? 😢😢😢

[martinwatson aka Camera Shake]

Feb 9, 2019 23:05:19 GMT nobby said:

I feel sure it would benefit Moseley to study the whole game - particularly the second half

I can confirm that the entire match video, from two different perspectives (close in and wide angle) was made available to the coaches/players/analyst within a couple of hours of the game finishing. The video includes the ref mike audio.

The video will be subjected to a detailed analysis taking several hours - move by move, minute by minute and particular moments of interest will be extracted and commented on and passed to the players. Line outs, scrums, backs handling, defence, tackles, decisions, etc etc etc will all be pulled apart, analysed and efforts made to see what can done between now and the next game, to improve performance.

[kingsheathlad]

We lost lineouts on their line two or three times,we lost an attacking scrum on their line in first half and in second half a penalty from hand was kicked dead.crucial parts of the game.I thought we deserved something from the game with the team`s efforts.
Come on Mose,see you at Sale.

[nobby]

When Moseley play as a team they can be good, very good. And they did that in the first half yesterday.

When they play as individuals they can be moderate to poor and they did that in the second half yesterday.

It was evident to a lesser degree in the first half yesterday - the last pass too late, the overlap missed - but overall they played well.

In the second half they resorted to custom and didn't play as a team, particularly in attack. And the wider vision disappeared completely.

Just look at the number of times the backs re-aligned when the forwards were engaged in white line fever in the last 10 mins. Not one forward - including scrum half - failed to look up to see where the backs were and golden opportunities were lost.

And as regards game management. There is an often subtle difference between playing to win and applying pressure.

Blackheath knew that Moseley were only one score from drawing the game and then a possible penalty to win the game. What did Blackheath do when they won a penalty with about 10 to go? They could have gone for a corner and would probably have won the try but NO, they went for 3 points to put Moseley 2 scores away. That put pressure on Moseley. That is game management.

Come on Moooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooose

[grooveavenue]

Revising our point needs I reckon it's 13 points from the next 3 games Sale 4 (A) Rosslyn P 4 (H) Lboro Students 5 (H) to be any where near safety.

We disappeared in the second half when, in fact, I really expected us to take full advantage of wind and slope against a very ordinary Club team who were efficient without being dynamic. We didn't match that. Our build ups were laboured, generally and our wings seemed starved except on a few occasions when we should have leant that that route would yield better rewards.

So, without this abberation on collecting 13 points are we likely to find ourselves stuck in the bottom 3? Hard work coming up.

I was glad to see Buster not hobbling around and hopefully near to fitness for a return - perhaps we can say NEEd to return.

[nobby]

I'm hoping for survival but having flirted with the relegation zone all season my hopes are currently on hold.

Come on Moooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooose

[beermonster]

re petespan: so if we all sit in stony silence 😡😡😡😡 as the players come off the pitch win lose or draw how does that work?

[danfin0968]

Think there are more important issues than whether fans clap etc when players leave the pitch.If that's the biggest worry at this point in the season then its been a good season

[Westcountry Mose]

Oh dear! Lose next week and we will have one foot planted in NL2. Even in Winter if you look up to the sky you sometimes see the light.

[petespan]

re petespan: so if we all sit in stony silence 😡😡😡😡 as the players come off the pitch win lose or draw how does that work?

Think there are more important issues than whether fans clap etc when players leave the pitch.If that's the biggest worry at this point in the season then its been a good season

......

Would that be the same “stony silence” we “heard” on Saturday? ...

And no clapping isn’t my biggest worry!? My biggest worry is that our club is in decline, has been in decline for 4 or 5 seasons and now look like they about to drop into the 4th tier of English rugby!? I’m sorry but this is beyond all that polite “jolly hockey sticks”, “good effort lads”, “well done Blackheath, Chinnor, Cinderford (insert team)”

Us fans clapped politely as we dropped out of the Championship,
As Hartpury blew us away to win the league and go up,
Ditto Coventry
AND NOW we must clap politely as look like dropping into Nat League 2!?! Nat league 2!?!

When are we going to let the management and hierarchy of the club know that we are going in the wrong direction and us fans are deeply concerned about it!? If we had made our feelings known in any of the above years, that we didn’t think what we were watching was good enough, perhaps we wouldn’t be in the position we find ourselves!?

Im afraid it’s that in the meritocratic business world of professional rugby us the “consumers” get the quality of product that we are willing to accept/pay for 👏👏👏

[martinwatson aka Camera Shake]

Feb 11, 2019 9:37:19 GMT petespan said:

When are we going to let the management and hierarchy of the club know that we are going in the wrong direction and us fans are deeply concerned about it!?

Whilst I have no particular 'inside' knowledge regarding the 'management and hierarchy' of the club - do you think that they might already be aware of this?

[nobby]

petespan points out that Moseley have been in decline for 4 or 5 seasons which, whilst true, is not the full picture. I'm afraid it goes beyond 4 or 5 seasons petespan - it all started many years ago when the game went professional and players - understandably - started following the money rather than their club.

Worcester, for me, will always be cast as the 'villain in the story' and the club which struck the first death knell of a successful, well established, well respected rugby club - Moseley as a substantial element of Moseley players transferred their allegiances to the coffers of Worcester, almost overnight.

Moseley did try to compete in the professional arena as many loyal supporters dug deep - some very deep - into their pockets but found it difficult and very expensive. The fact that Moseley lost their home, the Reddings, did not help, but before that I feel the loss of a lot of their supporter base was also a contributing factor. In my youth Moseley would attract 3000 or more supporters at every home game, even more when a local derby took place, Coventry for example. And there were times when temporary stands had to be erected to accommodate the larger crowds - cup matches against Leicester, Bath come to mind. Towards the end of the Reddings era that supporter base diminished considerably. I don't know why, but it would have made had a huge impact on income.

Although we have, with honour, come back from the abyss of going out of existence and now 'live within our means' the cruel fate of the changing structure and quality of club rugby is moving inexorably onwards and upwards at a far greater speed than Moseley's decline which effectively means that Moseley are constantly struggling to survive - certainly on the results side.

But Moseley should not be here, where we are, in the relegation zone. We have a good side, with a good solid base, some good players, even some excellent players. I am not saying we are a Premier side, far from it, not even a championship side, far from that as well but we are - or should be - a good national one side. We should not be wallowing in the relegation zone week in week out. So what is wrong?

I know supporters have their personal views on this, that and the other about what is wrong, which is their prerogative, but something is seriously wrong at Moseley. I feel that Moseley, the club, should spare no expense in seeking independent, professional advice as to precisely what is wrong and take immediate steps to heed that advice to put it right. It may very prove to be expensive advice, and an expensive outcome, but it is an expense which MOSELEY and the Moseley supporters, must be prepared to subscribe to.

I feel sure Moseley is too precious to many and too far removed from safety to consider any other option. If Moseley, and WE THE LOYAL MOSELEY SUPPORTERS, want to survive as a rugby force ( small F ) rather than an 'also ran' in a minor league then we must take action, sooner than later.

Come on Mooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooose

[grooveavenue]

The issue of lose of support really gets home to me especially post match (me attired in BM scarf and fleece) and enter the Moseley Village Vunderveld of bars, foreigners (as in not Moseleyites) and locals (Moseleyites). So many people, elders, not so elders and younger people come up to me and really do have an interest in BMRFC, rugby union and sport but are unaware of our existance, location and status- many believing we are no longer a Club!! A conversation is struck up and I tell them the facts of life and we finish with me handing them a fixture list. I cannot analyse the success rate of their taking up a visit to The Common but our promotions and advertising reach seems to be diminishing if it is the case that so many have an interest but few have an awareness. (for the playing arm of our Club, that is).

On Saturday as we pressed in those 'for ever' forward battles on their line at the end there really was a great noise from fans urging to get it over...and that was only for a losers point!! It was great to hear.

A number of contributors are looking for answers without coming up with a plan! We know that earlier we almost went to Oxford to play with a 'bung' of cash from 'the' takeover bid. Thanks to D. Warren and Co this was rejected but my lonely guess would be that if anybody knows of a person (or group) willing to inject money into the Club so that our Club remains safe with a guarantee of continuity with no small print clauses to rob the Club of its independence, I feel that there may be a hint of interest from the Board....but what do I know. Just take a look at those teams in Heaven where only Chiefs have achieved some kind of profitable accounts. So if you hear of people planning a visit to "Richo Tedium" in Coventry dont buy them a drink buy them a Birmingham Moseley Rugby match day ticket! Only pluses...better atmosphere, friendlier crowd, better beer, great snacks, we can see the action on the field without theatre binoculars.....

So it's 13 points next 3 games..with a fit Buster leading the way hopefully.

[ale]

I have to agree with all of the above from Nobby. I have posted before, I don’t think fundermentally there is a problem with the players, there might be a few playind above their level, but the vast majority are more than capeable of playing at this standard. I have always applauded the management in their budget/fiscal handling, however, there is fundamentally something wrong with the coaching, if you can’t get the squad performing to the degree we know they can. I don’t like to see anyone lose their job, and I have a great deal of respect for RP, but it ain’t working and I think Ossie probably didn’t know what he was walking into, from a silk run professional outfit, to a club that is struggling to tread water on the pitch, and I wouldn’t be surprised off it either with the overheads that must come with the splendid new clubhouse. I still feel we were railroaded into Billesly Common, I believe Holders Lane would have been a far more productive move, agreed, we would have had to work with residents and the council, but obviously wasn’t to be. The club has a very tough 8 weeks ahead, can they do it ? I’m not sure. But if we drop to Nat 2, the Bowls Club are going to have an awful lot of space.

[grooveavenue]

Contributors...Your mission should you wish to accept it is to bring along a friend to the Rosslyn Park match. Good beer.. good atmosphere... tasty food,good view from stand or otherwise....Wales v England Rugby at 4:45....Great day out for £15 gift for your friend....this tape will not self destruct after 10 seconds and neither will BMRFC !!!

[petespan]

I appreciate the above contributions and im glad to have sparked a bit of proper debate!?! I was afraid here (and on other threads) any of my posts were met with a bit of “hair splitting” rather than raising the point that something is wrong!!

We all know our history and are of course grateful of the people who have get our club afloat through very rocky times! .... unfortunately I do not know any wealthy consortiums looking to buy a rugby club!? (I’ll keep my ears open though 😉)

Thinking like that though is very much “putting the cart before the horse” and chasing success instead of laying the foundations and forming the processes from which success comes!?

I too meet the reactions posted by grooveavenue most people are interested in how Moseley are doing and wish them well but it doesn’t translate into attendances or support (I do my best!?)

I’d like to see the club go into every school in the area and do their coaching (like we read about in the program) then hand out handfuls of family tickets (2 adults bring as many kids as you want!) we are surrounded by schools!?

Similarly pubs!? Go in the Billesley and you wouldn’t know we play next door!? Let’s try to impose our presence in the area, like the pubs down the Blues, get a scalf behind the bar at the bills, covered wagon, Behans at least! (Then we can start with the pubs in Kings Heath and actually Moseley!!) give them a handful of tickets!

The match day experience could improve too I think? Imagine getting all these people to come to their first game and it rains!? Why is their zero cover except in the spanking new stand? When it rains watching from the clubhouse is like watching out of a steamy train window! Where are the offers? Beer and a burger? Happy hour? Live music is great but it takes them an hour to set up and everyone’s gone!?

What about trying to capture other sports fans in the city? Blues are away very often when we’re at home get something in the program there? Have a game that we let people with a Blues/Villa Albion whatever season ticket in?

Lower leagues of sport are full of clubs like us who arnt waiting for a rich Russian to come in and save them but are doing things to bring success ... check out what Accrington Stanley do!?

We already have a huge advantage with the population on our doorstep, history (the good stuff) and our facilities!?

Just a bit of rant but I’ll through my ideas out there? ...