Match Info & Photos: Moseley v Jersey Sat 5th Jan

[Communications Team]

MOSELEY RUGBY CLUB
*****PRESS RELEASE******
2nd January 2012

“Moseley aiming to ring out the old & ring in the new!”

Saturday 5th January, 3pm kick off at Billesley Common
RFU Championship: Moseley v Jersey [/color]

A New Year will surely herald better fortune on the fitness front for Moseley. Indications are that the injury crisis that hit in the first half of the season is rapidly becoming history and a number of senior players are in the mix for a return to home action. Whether this will be for the RFU Championship game against Jersey on Saturday or the following Friday night for the B&I Cup clash against London Scottish remains to be seen.

Whilst this Saturday isn’t quite a ‘must win’ match (given that there are still ten games and therefore 50 points available from the remaining fixtures this season), victory will undoubtedly boost one of the two sides at Billesley Common come 4.45 pm. A home win would leapfrog Moseley over Jersey whilst an away win could lift the Islanders above London Scottish.

9th London Scottish Played 12 - 18 pts
10th Jersey 12 - 14
11th Moseley 12 - 13
12th Doncaster 13 – 13

Jersey and Moseley will be eyeing the opportunity of both a confidence boosting win and an important push upwards towards the safety zone particularly as Doncaster failed to get any points out of Round 13 of the RFU Championship against Newcastle on New Years Day and with London Scottish having a tough fixture against Bedford on Saturday.

Irrespective of which players return from injury, Saturday is likely to be the home debut of new signing, 27 Welsh cap, Ben Evans at tight head prop – playing against his former club. Evans signalled his presence in red and black last time out at Nottingham with a dominant performance in the front row, and could just be one of Kevin Maggs shrewdest moves of the season so far.

Moseley expect the match to be one of the busiest of the season so far but can assure visiting supporters and neutrals (as well as home support) that tickets will be freely available on the gate - along with free parking via the Yardley Wood Road entrance to the ground.

PS – Date for the diary..............Floodlit rugby a week on Friday..........
Friday 11th January, 7.30pm kick off at Billesley Common
British & Irish Cup: Moseley v London Scottish

Hospitality – and the Beer roster!
There are however a few ‘definates’ for Saturday to entice supporters that include Abbots Ale, Old Speckled Hen, Hardy and Hansen and IPA Gold – so a ‘red letter day’ for real ale enthusiasts!

Supporters from both sides have recognised the significance of the fixture and hospitality boxes are selling well. Of the sixteen available, ten have already been snapped up with just six still available at time of going to press.

As a special promotion supporters can pre-book an entrance package for a match which includes Entrance Ticket to game, Match Programme and a seat in one of the hospitality boxes for only £25. Bookings can be made individually or in groups up to 12 per box. Fully serviced boxes including quality hot food are also available. Contact Bill Redwood on (m) 07515 294 312

[Westcountry Mose]

Happy New Year All.

It maybe worthwhile highlighting (bold type) the final paragraph about the entrance package and/or posting this as a separate message.

[Communications Team]

Match Preview now available on the club website

www.moseleyrugby.co.uk/report_display12.php?repfixid=1334

[moseleyblue]

I cannot wait for this game and been reading since the Rotherham game a lot of arguing etc but all I can say since first coming to watch Moseley last season (hoping next season with work commitments alot more) I love coming to this great club and a few pushes in the right direction this club could be huge.

Seeing the way Welsh club rugby has gone all is looking alot better at Moseley. A friendly club with huge potential. Reading about Mini and Junior rugby with the cost, well Dudley Kingswinford it costs £80 per child to have the privledge to play for them and I have never seen yet a first team player take any part of the mini team unless its near 15+ age, so Moseley are no different. you have a club on the second tier of English rugby with a bit of luck and promoiting the club you can go further, in Welsh club rugby you cannot go professional and challenge to where it used to be, Regional rugby has not worked well and that we can moan about in Wales but at Moseley you can still have a great future. Get behind the team and the board and push on as who knows where in 5 years we could be all smilling, happy and talk about where we was to where we are now. Come on Moseley and let everyone in Birmingham know that your it's local club.

[studleyken]

SATURDAYS GAME AGAINST JERSEY MATTERS, A LOT. Lets make sure, therefore, that we, THE FANS, all turn up on Saturday prepared to participate in the game as the "16th man" As I keep saying, dont just go to watch, be vocal, let the team KNOW we are there and fully behind them. The more noise we can make the more it boosts them. So.....
COME ON YOU MOOOOOSE AND MOSE FANS.

[welshexile1963]

I agree the match against Jersey is a must win game for us so we need a good turn out and we also need the team to be firing on all cylinders!! I will be there with at least one of my little ones cheering the team on COME ON MOSE!!!!

[observer]

Moseley - "the host who gives away the most" eh?

www.jrfc.je/news/preview-to-moseley-(a).aspx

Let's make sure we change that!

[philhall]

I'm really excited about Saturdays game against Jersey. I haven't so excited since I lost my virginity - but I hope the excitement this Saturday lasts a bit longer than it did then. In fact, one headlong dash to the half way line by a rampant prop will provide - not necessarily greater, but certainly longer - excitement and, if that can be repeated, "ad infinitum" throughout the game, then I may be a quivering wreck by the final whistle.

Can you believe that I have only seen four games so far this season, and one of them was away from home. They were the superb wins against Aberavon and LLanelli; the unconvincing "win" in Jersey and the draw against Cornish Pirates. Boil it all down to essentials and I have only seen one championship win to date.

As I have said I am really excited about Saturday. The weather has picked up and seemingly so have the team with their recent performance away to Nottingham.

You may recall I had some reservations about the euphoric expectations for the new season, which, unfortunately have not been without foundation. Even taking into account the two Welsh wins my reservations remained, but now, for some heartfelt reason I feel a new dawn awaits.

My heart is with Moseley, it always has been and always will be. My head is also with Moseley but it has not always been the case. When my heart and my head work in unison then Moseley will win.

Take the John Player cup match against Bath at the Reddings some years ago - and in those days Moseley regularly had attendances in multiple thousands. Bath wouldn't have won that game if they were still playing it today. Take the Exeter cup/ league game a few seasons ago when it was agreed the winners took all. Moseley won handsomely. Take the EDF cup final at Twickenham against Leeds on a gloriously sunny spring day. Leeds, a fully professional side, thought they only had to turn up but didn't get a look in and went home with their tails between their legs.

In the Bedford game my heart was all go, but my head needed to be convinced. It wasn't and after a bright twenty minutes it got chopped off. In the Jersey game my head was barely in concert with my heart but Moseley won. Now take the last Nottingham game. My heart desperately wanted Moseley to win but my head said they wouldn't. Moseley lost.

So, why is Saturdays game against Jersey so different? Well, in the two excellent wins I have seen this season, Aberavon and LLanelli, the pack dominated which gave the three-quarters options to be creative. In the Jersey win the pack had the edge, just - they didn't dominate - and the backs hardly broke sweat with what ball they got. And that has been the trend - in the main - all season, except for one glorious end to end inter passing moment of magic at Bristol.

From all reports the Rotherham game suggested the forwards seemed to have an element of compatibility against a bigger, heavier pack. What they seemed to lack was the confidence, cohesion and an awareness to know when to disengage and let the backs have a go. In the Nottingham game the pack were dominant but I rather suspect they were more surprised by their dominance rather than assured of their dominance, therefore, they perhaps took the view to hang on to what was working - just in case something might come of it - and it nearly did.

I somehow feel that the arrival of Evans at tight head will be just the catalyst to lift the team to the next level of confidence.

In the Nottigham game the pack did not take one step back.

In the Jersey I am fully expecting the pack to take a giant leap forwards and in the process of taking that giant leap the three-quarters will take assured strides towards the cumulative creative potential which they so eminently possess.

Once again, my heart and my head are in complete union and I feel confident that it will be a glorious, glorious day for Moseley Rugby Club. Never mind the facilities. Never mind the grub. Feast yourselves instead on a rugby spectacle. Pam and I WILL be there - God willing - to witness it. So, come on Moooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooose.

[islander]

Jan 3, 2013 21:13:37 GMT philhall said:

I the unconvincing "win" in Jersey and the draw against Cornish Pirates. Boil it all down to essentials and I have only seen one championship win to date.

As So, come on Moooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooose.

an amusing and passionate post phil - loved it ;D. one query - you seem underwhelmed by the result in jersey. perhaps mose weren't playing rugby from the very top drawer that day maybe, but they did a very solid professional job against a team with a solid home record and a passionate home crowd and won a richly-deserved victory by a hefty margin, including a hat-trick, keeping their opponents well out of BP range. hopefully we looked after you too. what's not to like?

hope to meet you saturday. i guess i'll hear you before it's necessary to ask for you?!

[Richie B]

Was at the Nottingham game and don't quite buy into the view that our forwards dominated the home pack. However the scrummage was undeniably better which helped us to keep in the game, also we managed to defend our line from the opposition set piece very successfully on a number of occasions which was a real plus. Lineout was still a disaster area though, if we could sort that second half of season I'm sure we'll survive with a bit to spare.

Very keen to see the team sheet for Saturday. Where I'm really interested is in the outside centre and left wing position, and the composition of the bench. Both Notts tries came down this channel as a result of a number of missed tackles. In my opinion two players playing out of position were cruelly exploited by a good set of threes. Every time the ball went down that particular channel the defensive line looked vulnerable.

Clearly a change needed to be made and duly was, however the only backs on the bench were half backs. Rather than replacing with a specialist winger we had to move our first choice 10 to outside centre and latterly replace Sam Brown both of whom had been playing very well. From this point on in the last 20 minutes there was only ever going to be one winner. Not sure if the constitution of the bench was dictated by availability but am hoping that the bench options are better for this weekend.

[welshexile1963]

Brilliant post Phil!!! Lets hope the team give you a reason to give us your famous "moooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooose"!!!

[philhall]

Thank you welshexile. I hope - I'm sure - I know - the team give me a reason to give you my famous Moooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooose.

If they do then I will ask Pam if she would like to join them in the shower and sooth their weary bodies. If they don't then I will get Pam to smack their legs. Either way Pam probably won't mind.

So, come on Moooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooose.

[watcher]

What an excellent match preview by Jersey - very balanced, fair and humourous - giving considered attention to the opposition. This is not often the case in more myopic utterances from some other clubs. I'm sure all the Jersey supporters will enjoy coming to a traditional and welcoming rugby club with a rich proud history and hope they all enjoy the day - even if the match result may not be to their liking!

[Communications Team]

Jersey looking to end their travelling troubles with New Year win

For immediate release Friday 4th January 2013
Issued on behalf of Jersey RFC

Jersey are aiming to make a positive start to 2013, carrying with them the festive feel-good factor from the Christmas win over play-off contenders Leeds.

The Islanders’ first match of the New Year is away at Moseley, and Director of Rugby Ben Harvey will be relying on a similar squad to repeat the dose with another league win at Billesley Common. Saturday’s game kicks off at 3pm.

Winger James Copsey is the only change to Jersey’s starting XV, replacing Ashley Maggs.

Jersey have been boosted by the return of young loan players Max Stelling, the Worcester three-quarter, and hooker Charlie Clare from Leicester. Harvey hopes to have both players available for the rest of the season, subject to any injury concerns at their ‘parent’ clubs.

Stelling, a try-scorer in the 20-17 win over Leeds, starts at outside-centre against the club where he played mini and colts rugby. Clare is on the bench alongside two players returning from long-term injuries: backs Tom Cooper and Ross Broadfoot haven’t featured since September, but are now fit to commence their comeback in a match environment.

Jersey have yet to register an away win in their first season in the RFU Championship, losing five matches and gaining just two bonus points. By the same token, Moseley have under-achieved at home, registering a draw and four defeats in the league thus far.

Jersey squad, sponsored by Locate Jersey and jersey.com
1 Sean McCarthy
2 Dave Felton
3 Jon Brennan
4 Nathan Hannay (capt)
5 Dave Markham
6 Graham Bell
7 Kingsley Lang
8 Guy Thompson

9 Nicky Griffiths
10 Mike Le Bourgeois
11 Ed Dawson
12 Dai Bishop
13 Max Stelling
14 James Copsey
15 Glenn Bryce

Replacements
16 Richard Barrington
17 Charlie Clare
18 James Gethings
19 Rob Anderson
20 Brendan O’Brien
21 Ross Broadfoot
22 Tom Cooper

/*ends*/

[Communications Team]

Moseley team for Saturday now on club website:

www.moseleyrugby.co.uk/index.php

[philhall]

I've just looked at the team selection for Saturday and it looks a solid team. There would also appear to be a first choice selection right the way across the three-quarters, with everybody in their preferred positions, which is perhaps the first time in a long, long while. Looks good. Can't wait for Saturday- but I will have to. Come on Moooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooose.

[Richie B]

Much happier with that back division than the one at Notts. Think the backs have missed the running lines and incision of an out and out 13 with all due respect to those who have gamely filled in in Kings absence. Have to say a tad disappointed that Mike Powell hasn't made it back for this one.

Does anyone know what the situation is with Brad Hunt who appears to have disappeared without trace?

[studleyken]

Everyone playing in their own positions, AT LAST!!!. No excuse for them not knowing what to do on Sat. Win the ball in the forwards and get it out quickly and lets see what our speedsters can do. Get the ball to SH, he's been bored of late with his lack of action. Nobody has seems to want to get it to him.
If ever the team needs our support it has got to be this Sat. So, once again, dont't just go to watch be vocal, be their 16th man.
Come on you Mooooose and Moose Fans.

[islander]

Jan 4, 2013 11:01:19 GMT watcher said:

What an excellent match preview by Jersey -

thanks watcher, you've made my day! hope to perhaps meet you tomorrow i think i've snuck into the official party so will have my jersey tie on!

[Westcountry Mose]

Good luck to all the Moseley lads on Saturday. (I will be stuck in deepest Devon watching the 'mighty' Barum take on Amersham & Chiltern. Know where I'd rather be!)

Whatever the result, a W does not mean that either team is safe and a L will not settle the relegation battle. Hopefully nobody will get too carried away on the Noticeboard next week. That said, I hope as Mose supporters we find ourselves more than happy with the result.

Phil: Have an extra oooooo for me on Saturday please.

[philhall]

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo how's that for a start Westcountry Mose?

[markd]

A good, out-of-the-blocks start is essential tomorrow. And then keep it going. It may only be January, but it feels like 'squeaky bum' time already!

Come on Mose!

[philhall]

Intit it great to see all 't banter on 't website. I' must bi sumat ta do wi' 'igh expectations fo' game tamora. Keep it up lads 'n lasses

[philhall]

or els wiv got nowt els t' do wi' arselves

[Oddsox]

Good looking Team. Only Powell & Olllie 'boot' missing from first fifteen?
No excuses Moes..... We are all with you - do the biz please

I have four guests coming tomorrow. Cum on U Moes

[turkishmose]

Jan 4, 2013 16:44:27 GMT islander said:

Jan 4, 2013 11:01:19 GMT watcher said:

What an excellent match preview by Jersey -

thanks watcher, you've made my day! hope to perhaps meet you tomorrow i think i've snuck into the official party so will have my jersey tie on!

Best wish's to everyone from Jersey and have a lovely time at Moseley but!
This game does have a cup final ring about it and for people like me living outside of the UK, it is one time I wish I was back there cheering my Mose on.

Come on you Mose!!!!

[gary]

No idea how you get Radio Jersey but for those who are I.T. Skilled and cannot get to the game this may help.

@bbcjerseysport: Reminder: Live coverage of @moseleyrugbyfc v @jerseyrfc in the @rfuchampionship on BBC Radio Jersey this afternoon. Sportscene on air from 2

[Steve@Mose]

Jan 5, 2013 11:45:10 GMT gary said:

No idea how you get Radio Jersey but for those who are I.T. Skilled and cannot get to the game this may help.

@bbcjerseysport: Reminder: Live coverage of @moseleyrugbyfc v @jerseyrfc in the @rfuchampionship on BBC Radio Jersey this afternoon. Sportscene on air from 2

BBC Radio Rugby Union Commentaries

[Communications Team]

Match details & Photographs now on club website

www.moseleyrugby.co.uk/allfixtures12.php?season=t&team_group_id=1

[Communications Team]