BIRMINGHAM MOSELEY 35 RICHMOND 35

In a weekend of unpredictable results, Richmond and Birmingham Moseley fought out a tightly contested Friday evening game, to end with a ten try draw in front of a lively Billesley crowd. Richmond led 7-21 at half time, having dominated, but Moseley fought back with great spirit to level the scores in the dying minutes of the second half.

Richmond therefore took three points from the game, and this pushed out their lead at the top of the table to five points. Rams lost their fifth game in a row whilst Rotherham Titans were edged out by third placed Plymouth Albion, Richmond’s opponents next Saturday at the Athletic Ground.

Josh Addams and Jimmy LItchfield returned to the Richmond starting line-up, whilst Sam Dardis was welcomed back on the bench after three months out. Opponents Moseley had started the season strongly and, after an injury wrecked mid-season, returned to form with a 19-0 win over Rams followed by a narrow 28-27 defeat at Rotherham.

On a clear but chilly evening, Moseley got off to an ideal start with a try in the opening minute. The move showcased the impressive pace of the home backline, winger Daniel Brough scorching on to a neat and obliging chip by centre Aquile Smith. The respective goalkickers, Moseley’s Jack Jolly and Thomas Taylor and Richmond’s Callum Grieve, showed excellent skill with 100% records from every angle.

Within two minutes, Richmond had equalised. Once again Jake Monson wreaked havoc at the line out and one early steal gave the pack the momentum to pepper the opposition 22. From a line out drive, skipper Alex Schwarz waited patiently till he could slip a pass to the onrushing Josh Addams on his shoulder. The winger hared to the line, barely touched in the process.

Whilst Richmond had the lion’s share of the ball, Moseley looked dangerous on the break. However, Richmond looked composed in defence whilst their big forwards made good yards, with Sam Pim always prominent. After 22 minutes, Richmond added a second try to take the lead. From a line out in the 22, they were almost over in the corner but were stopped at the cost of a penalty. With a quick tap and go, the forwards battered their way towards the posts before Luke Spring dived over.

With confidence boosted, Richmond opened up further, George Nugent showing impressive pace in a thirty metre run, well supported by Pim. Frustratingly the ball was then turned over. Moseley had their chances and Addams did well to stop Brough as he again showed his speed. In the 37th minute, Richmond stretched their lead to fourteen points. The Richmond front row got a good shove at the scrum and Schwarz took advantage to fire a kick down the short side. The home full back hesitated whether to take or leave the ball and had to rush his clearance into touch. From the line out, a neat front of line move set Will Goffey on the charge and the hooker barraged the opposition winger out of the way before touching down in the corner. Grieve’s excellent conversion contributed to a 7-21 half time score.

Richmond’s main objective now appeared to be to secure the four try bonus point. But Moseley were roused by their crowd and started to look much more assertive. After just two minutes of the second half, they had a second try. Richmond were caught offside, not retreating
when in front of a kick. From a line out about twelve metres out, the home pack powered forward, Ollie Stedman always to the fore. The Richmond defence initially held secure, but Moseley moved the ball well and winger Anthony Egodo cut a good diagonal line to get the touchdown.

The game was now full of incident and Moseley were pinged at the kick off for blocking. A second penalty allowed Richmond to get within five metres and when Nugent secured the line out ball, the hard working Spring was again in the action to force his way over for his second try and a 14-28 lead.

Once again Richmond were two scores ahead, but Moseley were now really fired up and responded within five minutes. Greg Kitson and Alex O’Meara combined to clear a kick deep into the corner, but referee Iain Kiy called play back, perhaps for a forward pass. Given a five metre scrum, Moseley used it well, with the forwards bombarding the line before centre Ollie Allsopp timed his run perfectly to break the line and force his way over.

Both sides created chances in the following ten minutes, but the next try came from sheer individual opportunism. Receiving the ball wide out inside his own half, winger Addams was confronted by a wall of defenders but somehow smuggled his way through and into clear space. He still had plenty to do but straightened, stepped out of another tackle and half swivelled to touch down under the posts. It was an outstanding individual effort and surely deserved to win the game.

But a pumped up Moseley now took control of this stage of the game and, helped by two penalty awards, hooker Ethan Priest scored from another forward drive from a five metre line out. The clock moved agonisingly slowly as Richmond clung to their lead. Forced back into their 22, they worked tirelessly in defence, with some big hits forcing Moseley backwards. However, one thumping tackle by Chris Freeman resulted in a yellow card. There were four minutes left.

With a scrum to defend, Richmond had to recall Spring, who had had to come off after his second try. Moseley heaved and finally Richmond’s seven forwards had no answer. No 8 Stedman claimed the try and the unfortunate Spring, who had played his heart out, could hardly hobble off the pitch. With a couple of minutes left, Richmond put all remaining energy into working their way up field in search of a last minute try or penalty. They succeeded in winning the ball and keeping it, whilst they tried time after time to break the defensive line. At one point, Schwarz was convincingly baying for a penalty as the home defence slowed possession but to no avail. Finally, the ball was passed back to Lewis Dennett for an attempt at another match winning drop goal. This time it really was too far out.

The draw was in the end a fair result though frustrating for Richmond, but the three points gained may well prove vital in an increasingly topsy turvy last month of the season.

Tries: Addams (2), Spring (2), Goffey
Conversions: Grieve (5)
Team: Kitson, O’Meara, Grieve, Savaiinaea, Grieve, Addams, Dennett, Schwarz, Freeman, Goffey, Spring, Monson, Nugent, Benson, Pim, Saysell
Subs: Post, Litchfield, Wills, Marsh, Dardis