Report by Ollie James
Photos courtesy of Tim Pitfield Photography

Seb Reynolds stated after the overtime victory in Round 16 of the National one season, “We performed well. I don’t think we were at our best today. Birmingham Moseley really attacked hard during the game, but we had a strong start too. We came back well in the second half after going in at half time 9 points down. We managed to eventually get the dominance that we were after. We battled to the end and got a penalty with the last play of the game. It was an excellent penalty kick by Andrew Humberstone to secure the win.”

Rams made a flying start with two tries in the opening ten minutes, but Birmingham Moseley fought their way back and were within touching distance of clinching the victory before Andrew Humberstone’s penalty kick left the home supporters in despair as their side sank to its 7th successive defeat.
Just two minutes had elapsed when Rams crossed the whitewash for the opening try of the game, Jack Moates pouncing on a loose ball from a Birmingham Moseley scrum after a huge drive from the Rams forwards. Minutes later Mosely flanker Morgan Dawes received the first of his team’s four yellow cards of the afternoon for an illegal tackle in the air on Rams winger Conor Corrigan. Rams capitalised as the Moseley defence went down to 14 and added a another try through Jamie Guttridge after multiple phases of relentless attacks and an intelligent break by Moates, who offloaded the ball to his blindside flanker to power of the line. Humberstone added the extras to extend Rams lead to 12 points. Moments later, the Birmingham Moseley comeback commenced with Number 10 Cliffie Hodgson adding three vital points to the score board through a penalty kick.

A moment of ill-discipline from both sides in front of the loud Moseley crowd ended in yellow cards for Rams captain Robbie Stapley and Moseley Number 4 and former England U20 Danny Wright. Two more Cliffie Hodgson penalties and a well-executed cross field kick from the Birmingham Moseley number ten to Louis Roach on the wing gave Moseley a deserved 21-12 lead at the break.

In the second half relentless pressure from the Rams forwards eventually demolished the brave Moseley resistance and the ensuing two penalty tries edged Rams within a point of their hosts with just two minutes left to play . Moseley conceded a penalty from the restart and Humberstone hammered his kick deep into opposition territory. A well executed drive from the lineout saw the home side defence concede yet another penalty and after some controversy over whether Moseley could field a full front row for a final scrum near their own line, skipper Robbie Stapley asked Andrew Humberstone to kick the penalty and much to the delight of the visiting supporters the cool-headed Rams fly-half slotted his kick to dramatically win the game for his side

Seb Reynolds said after the match, “These lads are a class bunch of guys; they are a joy to be around and a pleasure to spend time with. They work hard for each other on the pitch and I admire that. If you have a final penalty for victory that is real pressure and Drew [Andrew Humberstone] had the nerve to step up and make the kick to win the game which was special. I’m really chuffed and very happy for him".

Rams win means they join Richmond and Rosslyn park on 59 points each at the top of National 1.
Rams return to Old Bath Road on the 4th of January to welcome Darlington Mowden Park, who beat Hull Ionians 92-7 at the Northern Echo Arena on Saturday

Teams

Birmingham Moseley: Roach, Smith, Joyce, Davetani-Valu, Tonks, Hodgson, Arr, Titchard- Jones, Biggs, Tideswell, Wright, Spink, Xiourouppa, Lawrence, Dawes

Replacements: Tanner, Foreman, Priest, Crofts, Jolly

Rams: Leicester, Corrigan, Bryant, Hayhow, Humberstone, Moates, Steadman, Henderson, Baker, Taylor, Stapley C, Guttridge, Vooght, Stapley R

Replacements: Kidd, McDonnell-Roberts, Thomson, Bridger, Cole

Referee: Harry Walbaum
Attendance: 882