Moseley started the brighter of the two teams in what would become a frenetic first half. Harry Read was given early opportunities from the tee and did not disappoint with two penalties sailing through the posts.

The visitors started to find their feet, Will Wood breaking through from distance of the back of the scrum, Luke Bouchier adding the extras. Wood would increase the score soon after, Cambridge winning a scrum against the head on the home 5 metres before the ball was passed out for the score, Bouchier again making no mistake

Moseley’s response was almost immediate, Elliot Creed finishing some fine work on the left wing, Reed continuing his fine afternoon. The hosts started to take a foothold in the contest, Austin Nevitt finishing a line break, Read once more, before Jack Condliffe touched down in the left corner to extend the hosts lead, Read failing from out wide, to bring the half time scoring to an end

The Second period was a more measured affair with Read adding another early penalty. This was just a prelude to what was to come. Sustained possession and pressure from the visitors resulted in little forward movement as they were mainly constrained by the Mosley defence to the area between the two 10 metre lines.

Ethan Thorne did break through for the visitors, Bouchier again on hand. Moseley restored the points difference with a trademark catch and drive from 5 metres, a penalty try and a yellow card for the visiting second row Jake McCay.

If anything, this spurred the visitors on, Ben Alexander finishing a driving maul from short range, Bouchier’s successful kick bringing the visitors within a converted try with just 9 minutes on the clock. Unfortunately, they conceded yet another penalty which would prove decisive, Read calmly slotting through the posts, with just 4 minutes remaining.

Seemingly learning from several similar situations from last season, Moseley decided to look after the ball from the restart. A last minute scrum on their own 5 metre line seemed to signal a comfortable end to the game. However, they were overwhelmed at the set piece and the visitors swarmed, Ben Gibson eventually scoring in the left corner to give Cambridge a losing bonus, Bouchier unable to add the extras to bring the final whistle and an opening bonus point win to the Red & Blacks

Scoreline: 38-33 (HT 25-14)

Moseley

Tries: Creed(18), Nevitt(25) Condliffe(28), Penalty(62) 

Conversions: Read(19, 26,),

Penalties: Read(3, 6, 51,75)

Cambridge

Tries: Wood(10, 16), Thorne(53), Alexander(70), Gibson(79)

Conversions: Bouchier(11, 17, 54, 71)