I'll be there tomorrow with a sense of trepidation more than anything else but we're more than capable of pulling off results against the odds against any team especially on our own turf so let's get behind the lads tomorrow get vocal and cheer them on. They need all the support we can give them. Come on Moseley!
My heart wants a Moseley win, obviously, but my head thinks more rationale.
Whatever happens if Moseley play with belief and play to their strengths today which is an ability to play a free runnung, well supported, open play game, at tempo, even running from deep, then as long as they all play to the very best of their ability and play with honour then there will be joy in my heart whatever the result.
Just remember folks Moseley scored three good tries away to Rams earlier in the season so there is evert reason for optimism.
Pan I will be there.
Come on Mooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooose
A very good performance today by Mose! Pleasing to see that they strung two good half's together too! Unlucky not to win, probably deserved to too! On another note, when I went to take a seat in the stand, the young lady, who I think works for the security company LMS? She didn't have a QR scanner. I showed her my QR code and she waved me through. How could she possibly know that I had a right to sit in the stand by just looking at my QR code? The end of the game, when we were pressing to score, I've never known so little time added on! I think there were just 2mins? I stayed behind to watch the England game (I'm here now at H/T). Pity the kitchen closed. I was (am) hungry and would have bought some food? Also a happy hour was advertised pre-game. I buy my drinks from the real ale bar. No benefit there? What does Happy hour actually mean? 🤔 Come on Moseley!
Great spirit from the team today thought we should have won but wasn't to be. Taunton and Esher both won Which means we've been dragged back into a relegation dogfight unfortunately. Need to pick up points from somewhere or whe'll be in trouble.
Yes, the ref was not one for stopping his watch with very little added in either half.
This was one of the best defensive displays since Twickenham 2009. We had so little of the ball in the second half but scored a magnificent third try.
With regard to league position, it's essential that the club focuses on the end of season position, not the interim ones. There are two really tough away games now and anything from those would be welcome, but The team must remain confident in its drills and processes to take us through the other games. Obviously we need to settle the issue prior to the trip to Sale.
I thought Moseley were magnifcant yesterday. They played like a team possessed and were it not that the referee seemed to have taken exception to some of Moseleys defence then they would most certainly have won.
The team is well led by Captain Ollie Staedman. Ollie sets himself high standadrs and he expectes his players to tune into those high standards which is probably why, if I am correct, he appeared to berate one of the Moseley players for an awful 'on the shoe laces' pass.
Come on Mooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooose
Match Report Moseley V Rams Saturday 25th Feb 2023 Ding dong battle goes down to the wire Well folks although the weather may have been cold and damp Moseley, playing uphill, with the wind behind them, the sun in their eyes and fire in their bellies were certainly not. Within a few minutes Moseley opened the score with a superb, well taken close range catch and drive converted try. Whether it was from a penalty or not I do not know because, as with the last home fixture against Cinderford, I, along with many other loyal supporters missed the early action because ‘late arrivals’, looking for seats, blocked my view. My view was also blocked in the lead up to the second Moseley try - another superb close range catch and drive converted try. Within the space of 10 minutes Moseley were 14 – 0 ahead and all guns blazing. Rams, caught out cold were bewildered that Moseley had the temerity to challenge them, the league leaders, in such an audacious and devastating manner before they even had the chance to settle down. And that they did. Overall Rams dictated the tight eight set scrums but in loose play counter attacks, particularly through the three-quarters Moseley gave as good as they got. It was one such counter attack on around 15 minutes where Rams demonstrated some excellent 1-2 in-out moves in a raid down the left wing which gave Moseley something to think about. Moseley stopped the raid and disrupted the following scrum but in the process conceded a penalty. Rams kicked for the far corner, caught Moseley out with a cheeky short line-out throw in, a pop pass to an unmarked right winger and an unconverted try in the far corner to make the score 14 - 5. Rams, encouraged by that score, began play to their strength the set scrum where the Moseley pack particularly in the front row, were clearly struggling. At around 36 minute Priest the Moseley prop picked up the inevitable yellow. Perhaps Rams were a mite cocky with that as they opted for another scrum thinking that at 5 yards they might build on the moment and go for a push over try or even a penalty try. Moseley by contrast had no option but to bite the bullet, remain composed and focused and fight on regardless. And that they did with such alacrity and audacity as to beggar belief. They not only disrupted the Rams scrum they even stole the ball and kicked it into touch. And then to add insult to injury great work by Ollie Allsopp won a turnover at the next ruck and a Moseley penalty. But Rams, with a one man advantage regrouped and just before half time scored their second unconverted try from a quick penalty tap and go to make the half time score a more respectable 14-10. Moseley were lucky to be only 4 points down before half time because another superb, well supported clean break-out from the Moseley 22 put Ollie Allsopp well clear with outside support at hand. Ollie drew the Rams full back and passed to whom he thought was his nearest support player. Unfortunately for Ollie a covering-back Rams player had managed to get himself close to the two Moseley players, intercepted the pass and the moment was lost. With hindsight perhaps Moseley should have played in their alternative colours thereby making make the colour contrast more obvious. The Moseley players, led from the front by their splendid Captain Ollie Steadman, were certainly not daunted by their opponent’s lofty status; far from it as they took the game to Rams attacking them at every opportunity. To a man the Moseley players had gone toe to toe with Rams; had dominated the first twenty minutes; had played exceptional well throughout the game with some creative, well supported rugby. And although Rams, had the edge in the second twenty minute Moseley thoroughly deserved their half time lead. But would the same Moseley team come out for the second half though? It certainly did as within seemingly a few minutes of the restart Moseley stole a Rams line-out well inside the Moseley half. Within the blink of an eyelid Aquile Smith, always on hand tease the opposition set off like a greyhound chasing the hare. His spectacular weaving run, well into the Rams half, left defenders clutching fresh air in his wake until the Rams cover defence managed to stop him - but not until he was well into the Rams territory. It was thrilling to watch and an absolute joy to behold which had the loyal supporters in raptures. And Aquile was not the only player antagonising the Rams defence in spectacular open play. No sir! So were Sam Pointon, Ollie Allsopp, Tuoyo Egodo, Isaac Mcnulty and Captain Ollie Steadman. And not forgetting the ‘unseen’ contribution made other players such as Max Ayling on his return from a lengthy injury. It really was a solid team performance With both teams cutting and thrusting the game was becoming a humdinger. However, Moseley seemed to be getting on the thin edge of some referee decisions, so much so that Ollie Steadman, the Moseley Captain, had a lengthy word with him - but to no avail. After a long period of sustained Rams pressure the Moseley defence was finally breached with a third converted try to put Rams ahead, 14-17. But Moseley lads have a greater belief and an inner strength these days. They didn’t roll over and cave in. They took the game straight back to Rams and got stuck in. It was Rams turn now to defend for all their worth. After a period of sustained Moseley pressure they got their reward with a five yard line-out. With just one glaring overthrow exception the Moseley line-out was steady as a rock and more than a match for Rams. And although Rams held the initial drive Moseley continued to mauled their way towards the posts until Jide Ajayi crashed over the line for their third converted try to make the score 21 - 17. Strewth! Who would have thought it? With barely five minutes of play left and with both teams on three tries Moseley were in front by 4 clear points. One more try for either side would seal the match and a five point win. And they both went hammer and tongs yet again. Throughout the entire game the stubborn, defiant Moseley defence - even when down to fourteen players in the first half - had held the marauding Rams at bay and had barely given an inch. And then the fickle finger of fortune - ie the referee - favoured the Rams as a dubious penalty was awarded to them centre field and only five yards short of the Moseley line. A lightning-quick tap and go caught Moseley on the hop and a converted try under the posts gave lucky, lucky Rams their fourth and bonus try to put them 21-24 ahead, but they had not won - yet. With literally moments to play Moseley, like demons possessed stormed back up the field. They won a penalty on the half way but want to go for the win, not the draw. Once again Rams benefited from referee generosity at the Moseley line-out because he didn’t he like the look of something and awarded Rams a penalty. Someone, understandably, must have questioned that decision because the referee then walked Moseley back 10 yards. Not wishing to look a second gift horse in the mouth Rams secured the line-out then kicked the ball into touch to end the game. One could always argue that the referee influenced the game and in my view he did, so much so that Ollie Steadman had a long word with him midway through the second half, but to no avail as it turned out. Oh to be a spider on the wall when the referee performance review is discussed. Rams gave Moseley a tough game that was to be expected but being league leaders did not mean that Moseley had to defer to them, stand aside and let them win. Rams were lucky, very lucky to win the game. Although the score shows Moseley lost they played some excellent, well-structured and exciting rugby. They had Rams under the cosh for long periods which, for me earned them the moral victory. But that is rugby you take your chances, hope the referee is on your side and make your fortunes. Moseley should take great encouragement from today’s performance and look forwards with a new found confidence to all the remaining fixtures, home or away. Well done Moseley.
Come on Moooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooose
I have viewed both the Moseley and the Rams match highlights closeley and the more I look at them the more I am convinced that the Rams first try should not have been allowed.
Consider the following;
!. For me the Rams number two line-out player stepped out of and away from the line-out whilst the ball was still in the hookers hands, let alone in the air.
2. Once that player had left the line out he quickly moved towards the front of the line-out.
3. That same player was beyond the front of the line-out and in the 5 yard area BEFORE the hooker threw the ball in.
4. That same player then caught the short throw ball INSIDE the 5 yard area, passed outside to the hooker tomscore a disputed try.
The ball not thrown 5 yards, is against the rules of line-out play and on that basis alone the throw should have been ruled short and play stopped.
Consider also. The referee was badly positioned on the Moseley side at the in-field end of the line-out and could not possibly have seen what went on.
However, the lines-man was well positioned and he should have flagged up for an illegal throw in, at least. But he didn't.
I wonder if Moseley could have legitimate grounds to have that try viewed by a panel of refereeing experts who would have the authority to retrospectively disallowed that thrown in and thereby the try and dock 5 points from the overall score?
Yes, throw didn't go 5 metres which was clear to those of us standing on the car park side of the pitch.
But no, no reviewing of tries or adjustment of score. If it had been disallowed at the time the game would have been completely different, we might have been thumped. No doubt many of our tries would be struck off if reviewed later. The result was in our own hands in the second half; good performance against strong opposition.
