Moseley RFC V MHRUFC U14

So January started drier than December and we finally got to play some rugby … although we had to travel to Moseley in Birmingham to play.
Conditions were good for a competitive game of rugby against tough opponents, a team we have played just once before when many members of the squad sampled success at Welford Road in the Prima Cup final 4 years ago. We expected a tough encounter and it certainly started out that way.
The first half was a real battle, littered with handling errors, some tricky passes, some clumsy catching but resulting in a game played much in the centre of the park as neither team got into their stride. Players were it seems rusty from a lack of game time. Still we got to practice our scrums!
First to break the deadlock were the hosts, who had some strong runners and they broke through to score in the corner, too far out for the conversion, so 5:0
Harborough soon hit back though, Docherty creating space and out-pacing defenders for an individual try. Converted by G Williams 5:7
Harborough then added a second by Odediran, on hand to finish off after good running and good support running by Slaughter and Docherty. Missed conversion 5:12
The hosts came back however and added their second score, again missing the extras though so it was 10:12 at half time.
Whether it was inspired coaching half time team talk, or more likely the players had run off their rustiness, but it all came together for Harborough in the second half.
Harborough turned defence into attack with a kicked clearance. The ball was bouncing unpredictably and the Mosely defender failed to collect, allowing Eastwood to apply a further boot up field. Eastwood was first to reach it, near to the posts and realising that defenders were closing in, he most unselfishly popped it to Milne to score under the posts, allowing an easy conversion for G Williams, 10:19
Almost from the re-start, the ball was gathered by H Williams who forcefully ran at the defenders and broke beyond them. As he ran towards an undefended try line he was cynically grabbed by the neck of his shirt and pulled back. A clear penalty, arguably a penalty try and card but despite getting neither, a quick tap penalty so that the whole of Mosely were offside allowed Slaughter to score under the posts, again converted 10:26
It was now largely one way traffic, Harborough had their heads up and when the ball reached the pacey Powell, the outcome was never in doubt and his first try of 2020 followed, converted for a score of 10:33
Soon after the restart, the ball was passed to Odediran around the half-way line. A mazey strong run from him saw him score a fine individual try under the posts, 10:40
The final points of the day and another fine individual effort from half way saw Slaughter charge up the wing for his second and Harborough’s last try. Slaughter added the extras himself with a fine conversion into the breeze from the touchline.
Final score 10:47