Sat 2 Oct 2021, 15:00
Cambridge kicked off with the wind behind them on a grey afternoon with rain in the air, and were soon camped in the Moseley 22.
We were awarded a penalty for a collapsed maul which we kicked to the corner, but the wind took the throw astray. But Moseley could not clear, and we eventually won another penalty in front of the posts, which Lawrence Rayner slotted.
We were soon back on the attack, a second maul was pulled down and a third, leading to a yellow card for Moseley. From the line-out, we drove over and Ben Brownlie dotted down for his first, with Lawrence adding the conversion. Twenty minutes gone and 10-0 up.
From the kick-off, we had another promising attack, but it was stopped when the touch judge spotted that Billy Walker had led with his elbow and Billy was shown a yellow card. Moseley were unable to make use of the position, and we were soon back in their 22.
Cambridge continued the pressure and the next try came from a backs move finished by Andrew Henderson, but this time the conversion went wide. The third try came from another driving maul, again dotted down by Ben, and again the conversion went wide. By now, both carded players were back on, so we were back to 15 a side.
The fourth try was a gift. Cambridge's pressure led to a Moseley line out five metres out. Their throw went long, and Ben only had to gather and crash over. Again we could not slot the conversion, but the bonus point was secured.
From the kick-off Moseley won a penalty and with time up, they went for the posts, but could not slot it, and we went in 25-0 up. The question was what could Moseley do with the wind.
From the kick-off, Moseley set up a good position in our 22, but we turned over the ball, Matt Hema made a break, forcing a penalty, which led to a second Moseley yellow card. We kicked to the corner. From the line out we lost the ball, but they knocked on. From the scrum, we swung the ball wide and Andrew Henderson was there to finish and this time we slotted the extra.
Where Cambridge had been clinical, Moseley started to look for a miracle move, taking risks, tapping and running penalties only to knock on. This meant, while the first half was played deep in Moseley territory, the second half kept mainly in the mid-field. The wind had dropped a little, but the rain was now torrential.
Moseley did manage to create some pressure and eventually crossed the whitewash, but not until the seventieth minute, it meant they avoided being zeroes, but the result was not in doubt. Cambridge dug in and ensured that was the final score.
It was one of those days when things clicked. We dominated the line-out, so much so, Moseley did not trust themselves to kick penalties to touch even on a penalty. We more than held our own in the scrum. Our driving maul earned two tries. And despite the awful conditions, there were good contributions from the backs - both in attack and defence. If the centres could not run through the middle, Joe Green used his fast feet to find space where there was none and Duffin or Rayner kicked well to find space and pin Moseley back.
Obviously the boys are pleased and relieved to get the first win, especially as it has been a long time coming. But, if we can repeat that performance, and there is no reason why we should not, it will not be the last.
Final Score
Cambridge 32 - 7 Birmingham Moseley
Scorers
Tries: Brownlie (3) Henderson (2)
Conversions: Rayner (2)
Penalty: Rayner
