On a blistering afternoon both sides contributed to what turned into an epic battle between the unstoppable force (Moseley’s attack) and the immovable object (Rams defence). In the end, it was the defence of the home team that secured the spoils.

Rams started the game the livelier of the two sides when blindside flanker Jamie Guttridge put his team ahead on the 3rd minute after Tom Vooght collected from a lineout. Alex Seers converted to give Rams a 7-0 lead and slotted a penalty on the 22nd minute after a string of Moseley infringements to widen the gap to 10 points.

2 minutes later the try of the game took the Reading men to 15 points ahead. Alex Seers took a quick lineout to Henry Bird which set the Rams fullback weaving through oppositions defenders before offloading to Connor Stapley who put scrumhalf Ollie Cole in for a try. Seers couldn’t convert but took his side to an 18-0 lead on the 36th minute with a further penalty.

Moseley hit back just before halftime when Fijian centre and man of the match John Davetanivalu touched down for his first of the afternoon and fly half Ben Palmer added the extras, to make the half time score 18-7 to Rams.

The men from Reading restored their 18 point advantage in the 42nd minute with Seers again involved, this time delivering a pinpoint pass to Jak Rossiter to allow the winger to open his account in National 1. Seers again adding the extras.

Rams would not trouble the scorers again but instead would be tested to the extreme by a hard hitting Moseley offensive led by the excellent Davetanivalu. Tries for fullback Rob Povey and Davetanivalu himself, both converted by Palmer, brought the score to 25-21 at the 68th minute. What followed was the rugby equivalent of the Siege of Harfleur except that, unlike the French, the Rams blue wall refused to be breached and the game finished when Rams centre Ellis Jones tackled Davetanivalu behind his own try line with just seconds remaining to give his team the chance to win the resulting scrum and kick the ball into touch to start celebrations for an epic win.

Moseley boss Adam Balding commended Rams and said “Their [Rams] 1st-half performance was superb but we got caught out there. But we were pretty honest at halftime and the boys were magnificent in the 2nd half”. Rams DoR Seb Reynolds paid tribute to his men, and to the visitors “To get a result against a strong Birmingham Moseley side is really pleasing.” Reynolds went on to add “We had success in the 1st-half but when we dropped off they were very dangerous so we then had to rely on grit and determination”.

Rams visit Darlington Mowden Park this Saturday 21st September for the first ever encounter between the clubs.
Kick-off 3pm. Supporters can track the results on Rams Twitter account.
NEXT HOME GAME - RAMS V CHINNOR Saturday 28th September KO 2.30pm.