That looks like a strong, well settled team. If and it is a big if, IF Moseley can keep their penalty count DOWN, partcularly downright silly, pathetic, mindless penalties in their own half; silly penalties such as holding on - particularly in a ruck - other mless subtle rucking penalties, even some of the more obvious off-side penalties, some careless high tackles and certainly stupid, stupid, stpid back-chatting,penalties.
It doesn't take rocket science to work out that teams with a good line-out catch and drive ability will look at penalties in the Moseley half like nectar from heaven and that is a sad reflection on a lot of honest Moseley endeavour.
So, Moseley, play tomorrow in the way you KNOW YOU CAN play and that is with confident flair, panache and stubborn determination to keep the opposition at bay and let the spirit of success drive you towards a welcome victory.
Come on Mooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooose
Surprised that our new signing is not in the squad. Are Will Safe, Jacob Fewtrell and Max Ayling actually available for selection?
After a long time out I would expect that Jacob and Will will be eaed in slowly. Max Ayling was named in Stourbridge's First XV last weekend and Jacob Fewtrell was on the bench.
Unfortunately, Mose got on the wrong side of the referee. To score a converted try only for the opposition to score the restart penalty was a shocker from Mose. I didn't see what happened, but I'm sure it must have been avoidable. Three points is better than two, but it should have been five. Beating the opposition is hard enough without taking on yourselves and the ref.
Credit too to Stortford - can Mose have some of whatever was in their half-time cuppa?
Before the game would have been happy with 3pts, but from 24-3 up at half time really disappointed. Why can’t we put 2 halves together?? Tackling or lack off at times was once again an issue. Thought we defended well in our 22 and played some good attacking rugby. However, once again penalties, particularly 2nd half, contributed to our demise.
Having said all that, the most disappointing thing for me was Ollies double yellow, for guy of his experience and being captain it wasn’t acceptable and contributed to us not getting all 5 points
For what it’s worth I thought that ref was probably the best we have had a home this season, just saying.
Can someone explain what happened after Ollie scored his third try that got him a yellow card an concede a penalty?
The video shows a bit of handbags after scoring the try. Ref said the try stands, and the game restarts with the penalty for the 'infringement'.......you'll see it on the highlights......
Can someone explain what happened after Ollie scored his third try that got him a yellow card an concede a penalty?
The video shows a bit of handbags after scoring the try. Ref said the try stands, and the game restarts with the penalty for the 'infringement'.......you'll see it on the highlights......
The match info on the RFU website states that it was a "Foul Play Yellow Card" whilst the other YCs were "Technical Yellow Cards".
I thought the Rugby Post report was spot on, perfect first half, second half disaster clinging on waiting for the final whistle. I hope the 2 extra points we threw away aren't needed in late April, we may have moved up a few places but the gap to second bottom has shrunk a lot since December. We're a much less effective unit up front without Ollie, I guess that's one reason why he was immediately installed as club captain when he joined. I thought I noted a bit of back and forth between him and their bench late in the first half after he flattened one of their players, their first 3 points was kicked after that player was treated. Perhaps his first yellow was related to that.
We scored 5 tries vs 4 of BS and as noted above we led most of the game with HT score of 24-3 Ollie Stedman scored a hattrick but downside was the red for him. He has apologised for on the Twitter and at the end of the game.
Can anyone please explain to me why we continue to box kick in games where we are on the back foot and need to retain possession? I lost count of the times when we gifted Stortford possession when we were down to 14 and at one stage 13 players. Surely the more sensible approach is to starve the opposition of ball when they are in the ascendancy or am I missing the point?
My thoughts on the match Moseley v Bishop’s Stortford Saturday 28th January 2023
Well folks. It was a lovely, calm, crisp and frost-free afternoon which greeted both Moseley and Bishop’s Stortford to Billesley common on Saturday. The Moseley faithful, conscious of the propensity for Moseley to forfeit possession, were fervently hoping and praying that today, the last Saturday of January, 2023, Moseley would demonstrate, beyond any doubt whatsoever, that a self-destruct performance was a ‘thing of the past’. One can but assume that Stortford, by contrast, buoyed by a superb, low scoring scrap against Rosslyn Park last week were hoping to build on that good performance against a team below them in the league. On the surface two different and plausible reasons for a win but which one would prevail? Would the mythical St George slay the dragon of self-destruct, would Perseus slay Medusa, or would Stortford emerge triumphant and claim the double win for the second season? Only time would tell. And why do so many ‘supporters’ wait until the game has started before they leave the clubhouse to find their seats. With fingers, toes, arms and legs crossed and a half wager that Moseley would concede a penalty within the first five minutes I had already ventured out into the stand and claimed my seat. Lo and behold out came the late comers and I missed the kick-off and the first three or four minutes of play. However, I did hear the dreaded sound of a penalty whistle. I instinctively knew it was a penalty whistle because we supporters have had too many opportunities with Moseley of late to recognise the sound of a penalty whistle. Strewth! My Yorkshire blood froze in my veins, my sphincter muscle groaned, my bulging wallet with its white £5 note stuck inside gave an involuntary twitch and my mind went numb at the thought of my losing my ‘theoretical’ five bob bet that Moseley would concede a penalty within five minutes of kick-off. And then I saw the back end of a line-out on the Stortford 5 yard line and Moseley with the ball crabbing away from the club house towards the Stortford goal posts. And when Mathew Marsh, the Moseley scrum half spot a gap and darted through to put the ball down under the posts for a converted try the stand erupted. Well folks, with the first penalty blood to Moseley, Pavarotti was well pleased and so were the Moseley faithful. Come on Moooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooose. Bishop’s Stortford calmly regathered and set off back up-field testing the Moseley defence with some good half breaks. True to form on about 10 minutes Moseley conceded a penalty in their own 25 gifting Bishop’s Stortford the option to go for their own catch and drive. The Stortford scrum half must have thought “what the Moseley scrum half can do, can I do” and set off for the line. Moseley alert to the danger hauled him down just short of the line but conceded yet another penalty and an unfortunate yellow card for a high tackle. This time Stortford chose to kick for touch but an overthrow at the line-out gave Moseley the chance to make amends as they set off back up-field. And with Ollie Steadman the Moseley number 8 and captain roaming all over the place supporting and encouraging his troops Moseley began to demonstrate the attacking skills they undoubtedly possess. And that was with one man sent off. Stortford were clearly rattled and at sixes and sevens as Moseley dazzled them from all quarters. Within a minute of being back up to strength Sam Pointon, a constant thorn in the Stortford side , made a clean break and scored an unconverted try in the old scoreboard corner. The joy, the rapture, the sheer delight of the loyal supporters was a joy to behold. A few minutes later, with the score now 12 - 0 another Moseley penalty, near the Moseley 10 yard line, gifted Stortford with yet another chance to get back in the game. Again they chose to go for goal, but missed. And then a Stortford knock-on around the Moseley 25 gave the initiative back to Moseley who duly kicked the ball out on the full. Two minutes later Moseley conceded another penalty and yet again Stortford chose to kick for goal to make the score 12 - 3 after 30 minutes or so. I was getting a little worried that the Moseley penalty count was beginning to creep up. The Moseley lads, playing with a new found confidence were seeking every opportunity to pounce. And one duly arrived when a box kick from the Stortford 5 yard line was cleanly caught by Ollie Steadman inside the Moseley half. Ollie calmly passed inside to Sam Pointon waiting on the Moseley 10 yard line. Ducking and weaving Sam shot up to the half way before quick hands passed the ball out towards Aquile Smith, the Moseley Ferrari waiting patiently out wide. The whole stand erupted as the Ferrari on full song swept 70 yards up-field leaving the Stortford players clutching straws and chasing shadows. It was a joy to behold. In fairness though the Stortford cover defence, no slouches themselves did manage to get across in time to bundle both player and ball into touch on the Stortford five yard line. A minute or so later Stortford conceded yet another penalty, Moseley chose to go for a scrum and from about 10 yards out effortlessly drove the Stortford pack over the line for a converted try just to the right of the posts and make the score 19 - 3. But Moseley had finished business yet as just a few moments after the restart Dan Lewis put in a lovely little chip for the Moseley left wing. He carried it on before passing to Ollie Steadman inside. Ollie did not need a second invitation to crash over for the bonus but unconverted try to make the score 24 - 3 at half time. Well folks. Moseley had made mistakes and conceded a few silly penalties but I was not overly concerned by that because Moseley had put in a in an excellent first half performance, were playing well and had not conceded any points with the penalties. Stortford, by contrast, had made some good breaks and demonstrated at times that they had the potential to score from anywhere. It was also noticeable that Stortford preferred to kick penalties rather than run them; unless they had a cunning plan in to lure Moseley into a false sense of security and then strike in the second half? Mosey, clearly were playing to a plan and were better organised. They were also playing with energy, purpose and a genuine ambition to put past wrongs to right and succeed. The yellow card they got was a little harsh - a big lad tackling a little lad, wait for next season - but it didn’t cost them any points. With the half time score 24-3 to Moseley and a try bonus in the bag to no tries St George appeared to have the dragon on its knees; could the second half bring on the coup de grace? The Moseley pack, with a free roaming Ollie Steadman a constant thorn in the Stortford side, provided the platform for the backs to constantly stretch the Stortford defence. The Stortford box kicks were just a tad too far which gave the Moseley lads ample opportunity to counter attack from deep and stretch their legs. True there was an element of Moseley indiscipline but overall they were playing some scintillating, free running, well supported rugby. But half time is half time and we supporters know only too well that regaining momentum after a break can be a tricky call. Stortford hadn’t played that badly in the first half after all they made frequent midfield half breaks, particularly by the slippery Stortford full-back and centre. Neither had their forwards even sniffed the Moseley line let alone lay siege to it, because a strong, well organised Moseley defence had kept them at bay. I also felt the Stortford forwards seemed reluctant to meet Moseley head-on in a set piece, unless they had no choice. OK, a couple of Stortford line-outs had gone begging and a couple of scrums had not gone to plan which may explain why they chose to go for at least two penalty goal kicks rather than attempt their own catch and drive. Stortford needed to tighten their game up somewhat or face a bit of a drubbing against Moseley. Within a few minutes of the second half starting Stortford put in a lovely chip and chase from behind a scrum on the half way line. Although Moseley knocked on under pressure Stortford kept the momentum going with a good combination of short passes in the backs and pick and drive in the forwards. Initially crabbing left towards the club house Pope the Stortford centre saw the moment, accelerated through a half gap before weaving his way round at least four Moseley players to score a converted try by the posts. Stortford had given notice of intent that with the score now 24 - 10 they had decided to join the party; and with well over half an hour left to play they were letting Moseley know they had got their starter for ten and were no longer spectators. Less than 10 minutes later around the 10 yard line Stortford made a superb half break, converted it to a clean break with a short pass inside, then supported the player all the way to the far corner for a converted try. With the score now 24-17 Stortford had regained their structure and were back in the game. Shortly after the Moseley lads had a chance to make amends. A penalty in the Stortford half, a kick for touch and a perfectly executed 10 yard line-out saw Ollie Steadman emerge from behind the line out and surge over the line to score a converted try near the posts. With score now 31-17 the Moseley lads seemed to be back in control. But were they? Seemingly a bit of a discussion had taken place when the try was scored, and although the try stood, Ollie Steadman was shown a yellow. And to rub salt into the wound the restart, Pope kick a superb place kick from a good yard inside the Stortford half closed the score to 31-20. With less than 20 minutes played in the second half Moseley indiscipline had returned and things were steadily going from bad to worse. With Steadman on the side-lines Moseley, particularly the pack lost shape and authority as Stortford piled on the pressure. they conceded yet another penalty well inside their 25. Stortford chose a tap and go, Moseley interfered with the tap and go, conceded a penalty try AND Steadman collected yet another yellow card. With the score now 31-27 Moseley were less than a converted try ahead and with only 13 players were now in grave danger. That galvanised Stortford as they harassed Moseley at every opportunity. Moseley toughed it out until Ollie came back and steadied the ship somewhat but they were still in trouble. And then Stortford conceded a penalty on the own 25 line. Dan Lewis calmly slotted over the penalty to increase the score to 34-27 one score difference, which took some of the pressure away but there was still 10 minutes or so to play. About 2 minutes later Harry Butler limped off injured. Stortford seized the moment and went all out for the important bonus point try. Moseley conceded yet another penalty. Stortford kicked for the line, a catch and drive on the Moseley 25 and a converted bonus point try to level the score at 34-34. For Moseley St George didn’t have his day - neither did Perseus. Was that unlucky for Moseley, or lucky that time saved the day for them? My glass is always half full but next week against Cinderford, the penalty catch and drive specialists? Time will tell.
