John Meadows Match Report:
Jayden Wrottesley’s late try put the shine on a solid Birmingham Moseley performance, as the hosts finally broke free from obdurate opponents to seal a 35-14 victory over Rams.
The opening period was scrappy, with both sides let down by unforced errors, particularly at the lineout. The visitors were the first to find some cohesion and were soon pressurising the home line, before Callum Allen drew the referee’s ire and was sent to the sin bin for ten minutes. Rams turned down a simple three points in favour of a five-metre lineout, but lost it, giving Moseley the chance to clear. Despite being a man down, the hosts took the game up field and were making life uncomfortable for their visitors until a Moseley grubber kick was gathered and Michael Duda combined with Axel Kalling-Smith to work the ball down the right. Last-ditch defending held Rams out and won a turnover, but the clearing box kick was charged down, and the visitors finally made their extra man count, Ellis Jones crossing in the corner and Ross McKay landing a fine conversion.
It was not long before Moseley drew level. Rams conceded a free kick at a scrum in midfield just inside their own half, and the ball was sent high and long and allowed to bounce. It sat up kindly for the onrushing home forwards, and Ben Pogson eventually broke through under the posts to give Jack Condliffe one of his easier assignments.
The visitors were enjoying plenty of time in home territory but making little headway, barring a break from Duda down the right that was halted just short of the line. It was Moseley who finished the half on top, Nathan Decalmer chasing his own chip, toeing the ball on as it bounced and winning the foot race to touch down. Condliffe’s calm conversion was the last act of the half, sending the hosts in 14-7 ahead at the break.
Despite a bright start from the visitors after the restart, the hosts dominated much of the second period, though initially without reward. They were punished when Rams stole the ball at a ruck just inside their own half and Kalling-Smith broke through to feed Matthew Wickham, who made the most of the space and numbers to score. McKay was again on target to level the scores at 14-14.
Moseley continued to press and were soon knocking on the door again, Ethan Priest rolling round a would-be tackler on the line to touch down. Zak Jones, having taken over the kicking duties, added the extras to restore the home lead.
With the game still in the balance, Rams continued to frustrate until, with six minutes left, Nicholas Bingham broke the shackles to finish a surge from the home side, leaving Jones a kick from in front. The visitors’ cause was not helped by a yellow card for Max Marshall in the build-up. With the contest all but over, Wrottesley applied the coup de grâce, and Jones’s third conversion was the final act of the match.
Birmingham Moseley: Clarke, Decalmer, Ingram, Creed, Nevitt, Condliffe, Gipson; Priest, Pogson, Barwood, Allen, Smith, Masters-Safe, Dawes, Yallop
Replacements: Read, Bingham, Greaves, Wrottesley, Jones
Rams: Cooke, Sedgwick, Blee, Jones, Kalling-Smith, McKay, Wickham; Harris, Marshall, Baker, Cozens, Stirling, Saayman, Duda, Atkins
Replacements: Wozniak, Lomas, Ridgway, Atkins, Hoadley
Scoreline: Birmingham Moseley 35 – 14 Rams (HT: 14 – 7)
Moseley
Tries: Pogson (21), Decalmer (40), Priest (61), Bingham (74), Wrottesley (79)
Conversions: Condliffe (22, 40), Jones (62, 75, 80)
Rams
Tries: Jones (16), Wickham (51)
Conversions: McKay (17, 52)
