Moseley boss Ian Smith is ready for a Boxing Day battle at Coventry

Dec 26 2008 by Andy Walker, Birmingham Mail

MOSELEY boss Ian Smith is gearing his side up for a ‘cracker’ of a local derby this afternoon.

The Billesley Common-based outfit make the short trip down the A45 today to take on neighbours Coventry in a Boxing Day battle at the Butts Park Arena.

The usually-spicy encounter, one of English rugby’s oldest fixtures dating back to 1879, has been revived in a traditional Boxing Day slot for the first time in 16 years and as usual there’s more than just local bragging rights on offer.

Moseley sit ninth in National One just two places and four points ahead of Coventry, who have ex-Birmingham & Solihull boss Phil Maynard at the helm, and an extra edge has been added due to the RFU’s recently announced restructure of the league.

Smith hopes to welcome back centre Andy Reay after a fortnight out with a back spasm while Terry Sigley’s return is unlikely as the prop still hasn’t fully recovered from a severe gash to the knee sustained at Bedford last month.

The head coach is bracing himself for a close encounter with Coventry, unlike Moseley’s 34-12 victory at Billesley Common in September, but insists that his side are buoyant after two straight victories.

“The Boxing Day match is a chance for both sides to prove what they can do, there’s an air of confidence about us but we’re aware that it will be a battle,” said Smith.

“Last time we should have shell-shocked them with quite a few more points early on. This time around it should be a cracker.

“I think it will be a closer game than the one earlier this season. In these types of games you just might come up against somebody you used to play against or someone you came up through age group rugby with.

‘‘You know more people on those particular days and you don’t want to lose in front of those people.

‘‘It’s a big game and we’ve got to make sure we stay mentally sharp.”