Post by CJB1 on Apr 1, 2022 10:14:55 GMT
A little match preview:
After last week's below-par showing against Bishops Stortford, where at times it seemed that if it could go wrong, it did go wrong, Moseley will be wanting to make amends and to maintain their position in mid-table. Safety is not yet totally assured, and while we only need to be better than two other teams, with Tonbridge Juddians already too far back to catch us, all the other teams will be playing every game as a cup final.
There were some fine individual performances last week, not least Pat Zindi at openside flanker, who deservedly won the MoM award, and Dan Lewis's interception try - something he is beginning to make a habit of - was another bright spot, but the team will look to regain the spark that saw them overcome Plymouth, and improve in specific areas including securing the line-out, where possession in promising positions was squandered, allowing Stortford some easy escapes from pressure.
So this week we travel to Old Bath Road in Sonning to meet Rams. Founded in 1924 as an Old Boys' club for alumni of Reading School, their original name was Old Redingensians, and although the "Old" was dropped in 1969, the year after the club became an open club, they retained the name Redigensians until 2018, when the present name was adopted, the ram being an element of the coat of arms of the town of Reading. They maintain a traditional structure with multiple mens' XVs, a women's section, colts and minis and juniors, much like Moseley, one might think. The first XV played until fairly recently in regional leagues, but has recently asecended the league structure and achieved promotion to National League 1 in 2019 as N2S champions.
Moseley's record against Rams has been indifferent so far, and the reverse fixture, played in February, went Rams' way 5-26. Back in 2019/20 Rams prevailed 25-21 at Old Bath Road and 27-29 at Billesley Common. Close results for the most part, but clearly Mose have a point to prove. Rams are only one place above Moseley in the league table - 6th to our 7th - but the 23 point difference means that there is no possibility of us catching them this season. However, they have lost their last couple of games, so confidence may have taken a dent. Leading the try-scoring for Rams are openside flanker Tom Vooght and winger Henry Bird, while Tom Humberstone at fly-half tops the scoring charts. For Moseley, we must hope that Sam Pointon, Tom Benjamin and Mason Tonks can keep finding their way to the line, with Dan Lewis's trusty boot adding to the score.
So, a game which perhaps matters more to Birmingham Moseley than Rams, though the latter will not quite have lost hope of reaching the top three. The message in training will have been clear - keep on top of discipline, do the basics well, and, as ever, never give up. The travelling support will be there to cheer them on, so let's hope for a positive outcome at no-side on Saturday afternoon!
After last week's below-par showing against Bishops Stortford, where at times it seemed that if it could go wrong, it did go wrong, Moseley will be wanting to make amends and to maintain their position in mid-table. Safety is not yet totally assured, and while we only need to be better than two other teams, with Tonbridge Juddians already too far back to catch us, all the other teams will be playing every game as a cup final.
There were some fine individual performances last week, not least Pat Zindi at openside flanker, who deservedly won the MoM award, and Dan Lewis's interception try - something he is beginning to make a habit of - was another bright spot, but the team will look to regain the spark that saw them overcome Plymouth, and improve in specific areas including securing the line-out, where possession in promising positions was squandered, allowing Stortford some easy escapes from pressure.
So this week we travel to Old Bath Road in Sonning to meet Rams. Founded in 1924 as an Old Boys' club for alumni of Reading School, their original name was Old Redingensians, and although the "Old" was dropped in 1969, the year after the club became an open club, they retained the name Redigensians until 2018, when the present name was adopted, the ram being an element of the coat of arms of the town of Reading. They maintain a traditional structure with multiple mens' XVs, a women's section, colts and minis and juniors, much like Moseley, one might think. The first XV played until fairly recently in regional leagues, but has recently asecended the league structure and achieved promotion to National League 1 in 2019 as N2S champions.
Moseley's record against Rams has been indifferent so far, and the reverse fixture, played in February, went Rams' way 5-26. Back in 2019/20 Rams prevailed 25-21 at Old Bath Road and 27-29 at Billesley Common. Close results for the most part, but clearly Mose have a point to prove. Rams are only one place above Moseley in the league table - 6th to our 7th - but the 23 point difference means that there is no possibility of us catching them this season. However, they have lost their last couple of games, so confidence may have taken a dent. Leading the try-scoring for Rams are openside flanker Tom Vooght and winger Henry Bird, while Tom Humberstone at fly-half tops the scoring charts. For Moseley, we must hope that Sam Pointon, Tom Benjamin and Mason Tonks can keep finding their way to the line, with Dan Lewis's trusty boot adding to the score.
So, a game which perhaps matters more to Birmingham Moseley than Rams, though the latter will not quite have lost hope of reaching the top three. The message in training will have been clear - keep on top of discipline, do the basics well, and, as ever, never give up. The travelling support will be there to cheer them on, so let's hope for a positive outcome at no-side on Saturday afternoon!