MATCH REPORT

Courtesy of Jon Meadows

A Vital Point?

This was always going to be a tough assignment for the red and blacks, welcoming second place Plymouth to the Common on the back of a heavy defeat away to Blackheath the omens did not seem to stack up.

Moseley started proceedings, kicking of up the slope. The heavy pitch was never going to allow a free flowing game and so it proved. Whilst both teams showed considerable endeavour the first quarter was devoid of anything meaningful until an innocuous penalty for the visitors just outside the hosts 22. The resultant lineout from about 6 metres set up a simple catch drive, Ben Moa touching down, a difficult conversion missed by Iwan Jenkins. He was able to make amends a few minutes later with a simple penalty from in front.

Moseley responded well and were awarded a penalty just outside their visitors 22 who must have voiced their displeasure as the referee marched it 10 metre forwards. It was time for the home team to catch and drive, Ben Pogson peeling of the back to finish Jack Jolly with a difficult kick to bring the gap to 7-8

Unfortunately for the home support it was the visitors who finished the half the stronger. Another short range line out allowed Plymouth to apply pressure in the 5 metre channel before the ball was worked across for Oscar Stewart to run in, Jenkins adding the extras before the half time whistle

The second half was a close affair. Jolly opened the scoring for the hosts with a simple penalty, before the visitors upped their game. A yellow card to Elliot Creed would prove to be crucial, Albion eventually finding an overlap for Noah Fenton crossing for an unconverted try

The match turned into a forward’s battle, alternating between the two five metre channels.  Samuel McNulty finished for Moseley, Jolly with another fine kick. Benjamin Moa replied for the visitors from short range for the try bonus, Jenkins making no mistake.

The game continued to pulsate with Plymouth having the better of the ball. They may look back at several missed overlap opportunities on their left wing that could have seen Moseley out of reach

As it was, with the scoreboard indicating time up they conceded a penalty outside of their 22. Disagreeing with the official once more he marched it forward 10 metres to bring the kick well within the range. Thomas Taylors calm stroke sailed through the middle of the posts for the final whistle and secure the losing bonus