10

Birmingham
Moseley

V

14

Cinderford

by David Laurence

Birmingham Mail

Moseley chief Adam Balding was left frustrated after visitors Cinderford snatched a last gasp victory to deny the Red-and-Blacks a win in their final home game of the season.

A Sam Pointon try and five points from the boot of Dan Lewis had given the home side a slender 10-7 lead going into the final stages but a penalty try on 80 minutes when Mose were down to 14 men ensured it was the Forest of Dean side celebrating at the end.

“We were the best side but they were clinical,” the Moseley director of rugby said. “We left five tries out there! They didn’t have many opportunities but when they got into our 22 they came away with points so all credit to them. They are a gnarly old side and they ground out a win with a professional performance.

“If we want to be the team we want then we have to be more clinical in what we do. We’ve had two tries held up over the line, there have been knock-ons and those final passes. It’s not good enough, we have to be better and the players know that.”

Moseley’s options were hindered with two players forced off through injury in the opening ten minutes – front row pair Ryan Roach and David Langley unable to play no further part. And when they were joined on the sidelines by influential back row Jacques Le Roux on the half-hour it meant Balding was unable to shuffle his pack for the remainder of the game.

With that said, the home side still managed to post the opening points of the game six minutes before the interval when Lewis slotted over a penalty awarded for foul play from Cinderford’s George Porter earning the experienced prop a yellow card.

But the visitors rallied in the second half with scrum-half Jimmy Williams slowing play down and bringing their excellent pack more into the game.

They were rewarded eight minutes after the restart when second row Joe Dancer skipped through, Liam Hemming adding the extras.

Moseley’s threat came through the backline and it was fitting that star turns Lewis and Pointon were involved in their only try of the game ten minutes from time, the former intercepting a try before working the ball across the line where his captain was able to forced his way over in the corner, Lewis slotting over a tricky conversion.

But Moseley were unable to hold on and with Tony Egodo in the sin bin, the visitors were awarded a penalty try after Harry Butler had pulled down a driving maul – resulting in a yellow card for the second row.

Balding added: “We want to finish on a high up at Darlington next week but we will have to be more clinical than we were today.”

Referee: Iain Kiy –

Moseley Star Man: Sam Pointon –

Attendance : 1010

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