Moseley 9-9 Cornish Pirates

[Communications Team]

Moseley 9 (0-3) 9 Cornish Pirates

Scorers:
Moseley: Pens - Thomas (3)
Pirates: Pens - Penberthy (3)

Teams:
Moseley: Carter, Mogenson, S.Hunt, Hayter, W.Robinson (Thomas 53), Hughes, Brown; Thorpe (Herriott 71), Caves, Voisey, Lockley, Lawrence (Hicks 53), Pons, O.Robinson, Pienaar
Replacements (not used) – Wilkes, Burrows, Mather, B.Hunt

Cornish Pirates: Nowell (Davies 63), Pointer, Riley, Hill (Cheesman 49), Evans, Penberthy (YC) (Hallett 59), Cattle (Kessell 55); Storer (Joyce 63), Elloway (Yeandle 59), Paver (Storer 73), Lyons (Barry 79), Johnson, Maidment, Burgess, McGlone

Attend: 1003

[welshexile1963]

Well done boys, I think the Pirates supporters were expecting an easy win!!

[philhall]

Well me hearties. I bet the Pirates will be kicking themselves that they threw the win away after conceding a string of penalties. Do I errrrrrrre an ooooooooarrr, ooooooarrrr me hearties.

In my view, and it is only my view but overall and by overall I mean "overall" folks I felt Pirates should have won that game. That is not to take anything away from Moseley, quite the contrary, Moseley defended like heroes, but more about that later.

The Pirates certainly had the better driving maul - and by a considerable margin - whereas in the tight there was more of a balance. That said Moseley seemed vulnerable to going backwards in the tight when they replaced a prop towards the end of the game. It was also interesting to note that for the majority of the game Moseley's number 8 Ben Pienaar was able to keep his head up on a Pirates put in such was the stability of Moseley pack.

Recent supporters and other commentators identified the Moseley line as weakness. For me the line out today certainly didn't give any cause for alarm as both sides pinched a couple off each other. However, Pirates were marginally the more skilful in putting pressure on at the line out with their catch and drive and "off the top" ball, but what caught my eye was the way they subtly got round the question of "tackling" the line out catcher. It seemed to me that rather than tackle the catcher "in the air" they surreptitiously ambushed him and "surrounded" him so that he landed in "no man's land"as it were. They must have practised it well because the referee didn't pick them up for "off side" at any time.

In the loose and through the three quarters the Pirates were a constant threat but the Moseley defence held firm. Moseley, in turn, were able to mount some promising raids and were a little unlucky a couple of times. They twice failed to deliver that "last potentially scoring pass", one shortly after the kick off - I didn't arrive till about ten past three, I was held up at work - when Hunt , I think, certainly a centre had a winger outside him, and once towards the end of the second half when Carter, on a good support run was caught with the ball.

But the Moseley defence provided the highlights of the game. Time after time they absorbed the threatening raids of swarms of Pirates attacking them them from all angles. Yet not once did those raids have any real penetration. When a raid did breach the first line of defence - which it did, quite often - the second line held firm but - and more to the point - the first line of defence doubled back bolstering the second line. It was most impressive and certainly was the major factor in keeping Moseley in contention throughout the game.

The Moseley attacks were worthy of mention. The forwards, although not quite as cohesive as the Pirates, certainly made their presence felt and kept the Pirates back row engaged. This helped the Moseley three-quarters to defend "one on one" as it were and made a pretty good job of it in doing so. Indeed it gave them the occasional opportunity to counter attack and had they been a little more fortunate with 3 interception attempts they would certainly have scored. But it was not to be.

And on the point of Moseley attacking. I felt that the Pirates Canadian winger, Matt Evans, in the first half was guilty of the most blatant act of downright unsporting play by intentionally lying op top of Hunt, preventing him from releasing the ball and "winning" an ill gotten easy penalty. It was a cheap and nasty trick - a professional foul from a so called "international" player.

Moseley thoroughly deserved their third draw on the trot, at home, against the Pirates. Their defence was heroic. Their commitment and determination was absolute. Their execution could have been better at times but their rewards were well earned. But they must learn to stretch the opposition a bit more. For example. The Pirates defended well round the fringes - so did Moseley, but not quite as well. Rather Moseley were a little fortunate that Pirates didn't press home their attacks in that area - and it is there, the fringes, where many a game is won and lost. Newcastle were potent in attacking at the fringes and if my memory is correct played their advantage through those channels.

It was a good entertaining game - Ollie came to the rescue, again, with 3 well taken penalties - and I sensed that had the game gone on a little longer Moseley may well have won because Pirates were certainly more than happy to boot the ball off the pitch at the end.

A couple of Mosley players really stood out for me but it would be unkind to the team to single them out . They all played for each other and all deserved recognition. Well done Moseley. Well done.

[Westcountry Mose]

Well done lads and it looks as though Ollie provided that cameo I was hoping for.

BBC (one eye) Cornwall felt Pirates should have got 3 tries and other than a 15-20 min spell in the second half thought the Cornish pack was always on top.

It's 2 points to aid the cause and hopefully something to build on. If we can get a result against a fully professional outfit like this and with so many key players missing it bodes well for the remainder of the season.

[Oddsox]

Good report Phil.
Pirates scored pen first few minutes - then Glynn Hughes missed a relatively simple reply. Moseley then had their best attacking period of the whole game - camped 15 yards out - 4/5 penalties including a yellow for Pirates 10- kept going for lineouts & came close a couple of times - but going off feet let them off & we never got as close again.
I thought Pirates generally held the upper hand & absolutely magnificent defence by Moseley kept us in touch. Ref picked up lots of infringments, both ways, in all areas, but seemed consistent.
0-9 going into last quarter, I would definately have taken another draw.
Phil didn't want to name players - but I will (imho) all outstanding - but backrow Pienaar, Pons & particulalrly Robinson were magnificent together with the rock Carter.
I went to Doncaster last week & was so so disappointed. Despite needing to win today, I really enjoyed Moseley performance & will take the two.
Things are getting so tight.......Cum on U Moes.

[countrybumpkin]

While I would agree that at times we were outplayed up front, particularly in the line-out and at the very end in the set, I'm not sure that we were altogether lucky to get away with a draw. After all, had Glynn Hughes had his usual kicking boots on and/or Ben Pienar been awarded the try he appeared to legitimately touch down in the far corner to finish off Billy Robinson's 50 metre counter-attack early in the first half, we would have won quite comfortably! Certainly a number of the marauding Pirates I spoke to at the end of the game were more than happy with their afternoon's booty...

[studleyken]

I can only say of the game that Phill's report is true and accurate and agree it was a truely heroic effort by the squad especially after the dissopointment of last week. What I will also say though is that the Moseley support today was the most vocal I have heard for a long time and must surely have helped the lads. Well done every fan who attended today. I'm sure we would have wanted a win but sometimes it is nearly as good to know that the team is good enough to compete and take 1/2 the honours. I thought it was a great afternoon and I went home feeling only mildly dissopointed and thinking we have not yet seen the best of Moseley and when we do it will be good enough to beat most of the teams in the Championship.
Come on you Mooooose and Moseley Fans (the 16 man).

[Communications Team]

Former Cornish Pirate Thomas denies his old side victory
The Cornishman

www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/Cornish-Pirate-Thomas-denies-victory/story-17223631-detail/story.html

[martinwatson aka Camera Shake]

Birmingham Post report on the game

www.birminghampost.net/midlands-birmingham-sport/west-midlands-sports/rfu-news/2012/11/03/rfu-championship-moseley-9-cornish-pirates-9-65233-32161843/

[rickroyce]

Some excellent reports and analasys above IMHO - but on a minor point, could anyone tell me why, having won the toss, we decided to play against the albeit light breeze but strong sun in the first half when both disappeard as they (especially the sun) were certain to do in the second half?

[grooveavenue]

.....yes good game. I really thought we were on for a penalty try in the first half with the pressure and infringements by Pirates.

My two visitors from France and Ireland really enjoyed the unusual spectacle of a low scoring match but with plenty of flow and ebb to keep everybody on their toes.

Again cool Ollie keeping us in the game for 2 points.

Crowd reacted well and were noisy until the end.

Come on Mozzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Rich]

I have to say that the referee was weak early on. He rightly yellow carded their player from preventing our play of the ball on their line; this in itself was a potential penalty try situation.

The ref then proceded to give a penalty for their player blatantly coming in from the side of a ruck and a further penalty for an even more blatant deliberate knock on when our ball was being passed out - both within 5m of our line, yet no further card was forthcoming. I had the distinct impression that he allowed them to get away with some pretty scummy spoiling tactics to prevent our play because he didn't have the balls to take them down to 13 players...

[kingsheathlad]

It was not a spectacle ,but you could not fault the defensive effort my Moseley.If we could have nicked a try in the first half with that period of pressure who knows. A lot of errors by both sides and Rugby Paper stats has 14 for each side . if we could win our line outs and scrums comfortably and then with some ball build some momentum our backs look good enough to score some tries.
looking forward to a Sunday afternoon next against Leeds at Wharfdale's ground which i have never been to , but understand from those who have been , is one of the best.

[John]

I really enjoyed the game on Saturday. I thought the back row, along with Carter were excellent. Low scoring but held the interest. I thought we had a decent gate as well, which helped improve the atmosphere and plenty of folks stayed a little longer in the clubhouse following the game too. Long time to wait until the next home game now. Music was naff, but it made everyone laugh, so not a bad move.

[Steve@Mose]

Mail:

Improved performance call from Moseley captain after draw with Cornish Pirates

Kevin Maggs on the impact of Stefan Thorp

[Richie B]

Full credit to the boys for a fighting performance and two valuable league points against the odds. Defence was excellent all match and on the few occasions we got up a head of steam we looked sharp in the backs. Forwards scrapped hard for everything and forced many mistakes from Pirates.

Still worried a bit about our set pieces as invariably they don't seem to be as solid as our opponents. We appear to have to scramble the ball away under pressure rather than with an element of control. Also we appear to go long periods in games without winning much ball which allows the opposition to dictate the game.

More than happy with the two points though as Pirates will be kicking themselves not to have won it. All in all a good result with so many injuries!