Praise for 'bulldozing' Moseley skipper Neil Mason

Sep 22 2009 by Brian Dick, Birmingham Mail

ANDY Reay hailed the “bulldozing” performance of skipper Neil Mason after the dynamic back-row starred in Saturday’s match with Nottingham.

A third sleepy start in consecutive weeks cost Mose the game, but only after Mason claimed one of his team’s two tries and turned in a dynamic display.

As well as barging his way over the visitors’ line in the 38th minute, the former Worcester breakaway won several penalties in just his second game back from an injured shoulder.

And Reay, who was making his first appearance of the campaign, having recovered from a hamstring strain, praised the 26-year-old action man.

“I thought he was really good. He was back at his bulldozing best,” the centre said.

“He is one of those guys, with Tex [Terry Sigley], that leads us and the others follow.

“If we can get him playing like that every week it gives us a good platform to go from.”

Indeed, Reay believes that Mason was not the only player who stepped up to the mark at the weekend.

Having been routed in the lineout and at the breakdown by Exeter and Cornish Pirates in previous weeks, the Red and Black pack were much more involved.

“The forwards were a lot better.” Reay said.

“It is just getting that work-rate instilled in them. Once one of them starts playing well they spark off each other.”

And that started to happen against Nottingham. The lineout, which had been operating at around 50 per cent, was virtually perfect and the Mose scrum got the better in some exchanges.

Reay views the showing, if not the 31-20 result, a step in the right direction.

“We can build from it,” he said.

“I don’t think we had a great deal to build on from Cornish Pirates.

“There were a couple of little mistakes. A bit of anxiety crept in and people were panicking.

“The second try at least was a little bit of nerves setting in.

“If we can cut that out for next week and work again on our defence we can go from there.”

Hooker Dan Oselton is expected to be fit to face Doncaster after coming off with a shoulder problem.