Chris Bertram on the toughest home assignment so far
Birmingham Moseley remain without a win on the road after the trip to Bury St Edmunds. A promising start seemed to have set the red-and-blacks on the road to victory, but the home side pulled their socks up, and late into the second half were two scores ahead. Moseley managed to claw the deficit back and seemed to be heading for a highly creditable draw away from home, but Bury were gifted possession in the final minutes and made that count to come out 31-26 winners. Although Moseley clearly had forward superiority, Bury’s backs, particularly their centres, seemed able to find ways through and constantly put Moseley under defensive pressure. The final result was what they deserved, and full credit for that.
Still, two bonus points were earned, and with 18 points Moseley remain eighth in the league table, just behind a reviving London Scottish and ahead of Bury. Sale FC are only five points ahead in fifth, but of more concern will be that Dings Crusaders, in thirteenth, are just three points behind. It remains a very tight league, and there is little room for error if the aim of keeping clear of the bottom four places is to be achieved.
While the middle of the table is a highly competitive affair, the top of the table is a different matter. Camborne have won six of seven matches and sit third with 30 points, and Plymouth Albion sit atop the league with a perfect record and a colossal points difference. However, the surprise package must be Tonbridge Juddians, in second place having also won all their matches with bonus points. They represent Moseley’s opposition in Round 8, and will doubtless be a formidable challenge. Against this, Moseley will be aiming to re-establish home dominance, with three wins from four to date. It won’t be easy for either side.
The teams have met four times overall, with Moseley shading the record by two wins to one with one draw. Moseley’s wins came back in 2021/22, when TJs spent a single season in National League 1 before going back down. After a few seasons rebuilding they were promoted the season before last, and the 2025/26 results were very much more in their favour, a 31-17 win at The Slade being followed by a 27-27 draw at Billesley. This season TJs have shown everyone that they mean business, and will be looking for a first win at Billesley. But followers of the figures will note that of their seven wins this season, only one, their most recent match at home to Rams, was a truly convincing scoreline – the other six were by seven points or less. There are clearly some defensive frailties there, and Moseley must look to exploit these if TJs’ winning run is to be brought to an end.
Tonbridge have amassed 45 tries in the course of their league campaign so far. The man to watch, with 14 of those tries, is wing Jack Walsh. He is in his first season at The Slade, but has previously turned out for Richmond, Esher, London Irish and Barnes. Second, and top scorer by virtue of being the man with the kicking duties, is scrum-half Connor Lloyd. To his eight tries he has added 31 conversions and 3 penalties, giving him a massive 111 points. He is in his third season at TJs, his rugby journey having taken him there from Leeds Tykes via Bishop’s Stortford.
It was forwards’ week for Moseley at Bury, with hooker Ben Pogson, flanker Morgan Dawes, and props Fred Ma’s and George Perry all crossing. Ben now has three for the season, Morgan two and Fred and George both opened their accounts. Zac Jones converted two tries and Harry Read one, giving him 47 points to remain leading scorer. Eighteen different players have now crossed for Moseley – anyone can be called upon to contribute, and no-one is shirking their responsibilities.-
National League 1 rugby returns to Billesley this Saturday on what will probably be a cool, cloudy day. The home team will be smarting from recent losses and wanting to put that right, while the visitors will come expecting to extend their sequence of Ws to eight. It’s going to be hard-fought, but the home crowd will be right behind the Billesley boys, cheering them on with the passionate cry:
“Come on Moseley”
