AFTER MATCH RESULT

[Gerald the Fish]

Bit of a disappointing result today particularly as we actually played a lot of the better rugby. I'm not sure we'd have won today but I felt we were robbed on several levels and the score shouldn't have been anywhere as flattering as it was to Bristol. I spoke to Dan Sanderson after the game, and a few other players too, to express my gratitude for the effort put in by the guys. My main gripes were, in strict order of gripe magnitude, The outrageous forward pass by Bris whilst the ref and nearest touch judge were 30 metres behind the play that led to a try being given. The fact a Bris player had been pushed into touch, and you could see his bloody foot prints along the whitewash from where I was standing, but was allowed to continue and score. Again touch was somewhere down the line but failed to see it. The high tackle the stopped an extremely promising piece of Mose play dead in it's tracks because our guy had been basically garroted (didn't quite see who it happened to, sorry). Again not seen and no penalty. What appeared to be a deliberate slap down by a Bris player off his feet at the breakdown. You guessed it no penalty or yellow. And finally, Although I do confess I was 130 metres away, Ponsy being sent off and a penalty try to them. I'm not necessarily implying there was anything wrong with the judgement but it just appears to have climbed on me knockers slightly. Enough said.


Sorry I've also just realised I've given the most stupid subject heading to this post. It's a logical necessity that the result is after the match DOH

[observer]

From the Bristol website www.bristolrugby.co.uk

Six-Try Bristol Keep Home Record Alive
Bristol Rugby 48-13 Moseley
12th February 2012 published by Tom Tainton

Bristol Rugby guaranteed a top-two finish with a 48-13 thumping of Moseley at the Memorial Stadium on Sunday.

Liam Middleton’s side scored six tries – three in each half – to ensure that they have beaten every RFU Championship opponent at least once ahead of the play-offs.

Ross Johnston, Fautua Otto, Marco Mama, Will Helu and Matt Williams all crossed the whitewash, while Bristol also added a penalty try.

Glyn Hughes kicked Moseley into an early lead with a long-range penalty goal after Bristol were penalized at the breakdown. Matty James hit back a minute later when he leveled the scores after Ruki Tipuna’s quick-tap caught the visitors napping.

During the opening exchanges, Moseley had the lion’s share of possession and regained the advantage courtesy of Glyn Hughes’ second successful penalty goal.

But Matty James kept the hosts in touch in a scrappy first period, converting a penalty goal midway through the half as the score moved to 6-6.

Bristol posted the first try of the afternoon in bizarre circumstances soon after. Fautua Otto coasted through a gap in the Moseley defence and looked destined to score in the corner, only for referee Ross Campbell to adjudge that the Samoan was held up over the line.

Liam Middleton’s men won a penalty at the resulting scrum and opted to kick for the corner. A classic rolling maul ensued and Bristol’s formidable pack forced their way over the line – Ross Johnston touching down for a converted try.

Matty James struck the upright with a penalty attempt as Bristol began to gain the ascendancy. As the visitors tried to keep withstand another surge from the forwards, Moseley’s Ben Pons saw yellow.

Bristol took full advantage of their superior number-count, scoring two quickfire tries to take a commanding half time lead. First, a powerful scrum resulted in a penalty try before Fautua Otto benefited from quick hands to slide over in the corner for a 27-6 half-time advantage.

Moseley were first to strike after the interval, starting the second half brightly and making their pressure pay when Anthony Carter rounded off a flowing move to score. Hughes struck the extras to reduce the arrears to 27-13.

Marco Mama made sure of the bonus point when he pushed Bristol further ahead, crossing for a fourth try just before the hour mark. The flanker latched onto Ruki Tipuna’s inviting delayed pass to thunder over from close range. Replacement fly-half Matthew Jones added the conversion as the home side moved to 34-13.

As the visitors tired late in the game, Bristol plundered two further tries. Will Helu showed an incisive turn of pace to carve an opening in the Moseley midfield and score under the posts. Then, in the dying seconds, Matt Williams capped a fine individual performance, going over for a try in front of the Blackthorn Terrace to confirm a fine 48-13 victory.

Bristol Rugby:

Sean Marsden; George Watkins, Fautua Otto, Luke Eves, Matt Williams; Matty James, Ruki Tipuna (c); Darren Crompton, Ross Johnston, Wayne Thompson, Glen Townson, Roy Winters, Henry Vanderglas, Marco Mama, Dan Montagu.

Replacements: Rhys Lawrence (for Ross Johnston, 68 mins), Mark Lilley (for Darren Crompton, 47 mins), Ben Glynn (for Roy Winters, 56 mins), Steve Uren, Tom Slater (for Ruki Tipuna, 73 mins), Matthew Jones (for Matty James, 56 mins), Will Helu (for Luke Eves, 73 mins).

Moseley:

Anthony Carter; Anders Mogenson, Brad Hunt, Andy Reay (c), William Robinson; Glyn Hughes, Ryan de la Harpe, Marshall Gadd, Adam Caves, Colin Quigley, David Lyons, Dan Sanderson, Michael Maltman, Michael Ellery.

Replacements: Anthony O’Donnell (for Marshall Gadd, 59 mins), Craig Voisey (for Colin Quigley, 41 mins), Richard Stott (for Dan Sanderson, 59 mins), James Ingle (for Ben Pons, 42 mins), James Tyas (for Michael Maltman, 41 mins), Sam Brown (for Andy Reay, 68 mins), Oliver Thomas (for Anthony Carter, 59 mins).

Referee: Ross Campbell
Attendance: 4322

[observer]

And the Bristol Supporters version from their message board site:
www.rugbynetwork.net/main/s100/st175243.htm

[CJB1]

I thought there was a foot in touch for their fourth (or was it fifth) try. No matter, we were well beaten, mainly in the forwards by a well-drilled, full-time outfit with size on their side too. Shame, we did play some good rugby, and could have had a couple more scores but for handling problems.

Still, bring on Bedford.

[studleyken]

I agree with Gerald. That was not a 30 points difference game. The lads battled well against the top team in the table and lets not forget Mose have ended 2-1 up regarding results against Bristol this season, a point I had to make to a Bristol fan?? who actually stopped his car when we were walking back to ours to shout how easily they had beaten us. Funnily enough, we had just been saying that the Bristol fans seemed more like a football crowd than a Rugby crowd.
I think we should have known we would not get the rub of the green when we saw who the officials were. How many times have we had that ref this season? 5? and I can only remember 1 game where I think he had a good one.
Lets hope the injuries to Andy Reay and (I think) James Tyas are not too bad. We are going to need every one for the next 2 games plus the play-offs. bedford next week should give us a good chance of a point for the play-offs but the Pirates the week after may be a step too far.
the Lads are playing some good attractive rugby at the moment so lets get behind them for the rest of the season. lets make some noise.
Come on you Mooooose.

[Littlemissminx]

I agree with you ken the fans yesterday were VILE ! I usually enjoy going to bristol's ground but yesterday they were definately more football fans than rugby fans. Why are we not allowed to cheer when our team score a try ? we are always very hospitable to them when they come to the common !

Well at least its 2 - 1 to Moseley

come on the mose !!!!!!

[Steve@Mose]

Newspaper reports:

Bristol Evening Post: Revenge win completes set for dominant Bristol

Birmingham Mail: Moseley made to pay by leaders

[jaggers]

I think the defeat was deserved, but the scoreline wasn't. In general play I thought Moseley were equal but the problems were mainly at the scrum and lineout, especially in the second half; whenever Bristol lost possession from a penalty, they'd win our resulting lineout and the pressure would be on again. After the first 15 minutes or so in the second half, I can't remember any Moseley possession in the Bristol half.

I thought the backs did well, Hunt looked quite good in possession and they defended quite well, especially considering Bristol are meant to be playing really good rugby, I think the two flurries of tries in each half were a bit unforetunate, a couple were well worked but at the very end Moseley just didn't have the legs.

I didn't think the crowd were that bad, but it surprised me when they were getting on the team's back despite leading 34-13! Only bad thing I noticed were a few whistles when Hughes was shaping up to kick in the first half. But overall, I've seen much more depressing performances with much closer scorelines.