Local knowledge gives Moseley the edge

27

Birmingham
Moseley

V

10

Leicester
Lions

With a strong wind and a heavy pitch this was never going to be a free running game..

Leicester started proceedings with the breeze at their backs, playing down the slope. Shading territorial advantage and with superior scrummaging they never really threatened. Indeed it was Moseley who nearly opened the scoring. A well worked line out on their right hand side, the hosts worked the ball to the left. Freddie Painter had a half break before feeding Aquile Smith on the wing. Only a last gasp tap tackle stopped him running in.

It was not until the 23rd minute before a clear opportunity presented itself, Luke Bouchier with a fairly simple penalty for the visitors from about halfway inside home territory.

Possession continued to ebb and flow until a chip through by the home team was allowed to bounce. Stuck to the pitch, Oliver Allsopp showed his soccer skills with a couple of dribbles and touch down under the posts. Jack Jolly’s conversion was a formality on the half hour, to complete the scoring for what was, in reality, a drab first half.

Following the turnaround Mosley were soon on the score sheet. A lineout inside the visitors 22 set up a slow drive. Working towards the posts the ball was passed to Morgan Adderly-Jones who was running a great line to dive in under the posts, Jolly again making no mistake.

The restart was not good for Moseley, failing to gather the ball cleanly, a knock forward allowed the Lions a sustained period of possession and territory. Moseley infringed several times at close quarter, Lions opting for a scrum each time. Reuben Logan picked and went to score, Bouchier easily adding the extras.

It was at this point that Moseley started to use the favourable conditions to their advantage, using the wind to pin their visitors back, Jolly adding two long range penalties. There was time for one last catch and drive from the home team, James Randall credited with grounding the ball, Taylor adding the extras.

The restart was gathered by the visitors, who kicked the ball dead for the final whistle.