Moseley-Coventry derby still has the old spice
Dec 24 2009 by Mark Woodward, Birmingham Mail
THE traditional Boxing Day clash between Moseley and Coventry will doubtless draw a bumper crowd, many of whom will consult the team list, as they do every Saturday, immediately they step on to the ground.
Unusually, however, with memories of the October Butts Arena encounter still relatively fresh, the visiting supporters are likely to look for the name of the referee, before those of the starting XVs.
On that occasion, 21-year-old Luke Pearce controversially awarded three penalty tries in Moseley’s favour, including the match-clinching score eight minutes into injury time.
And while Coventry fans have had things on their minds in the intervening weeks, it is unlikely the image of Mr Pearce thrice running to their posts has been eradicated just yet.
Moseley coach Ian Smith admits passions could be running high, on and off the pitch.
“This is a local derby and we should not underestimate the emotions that that brings,” he said. “It will be fraught so we will need to control ourselves. It is likely to be a fairly spicy encounter, especially after the game down there.
“And there’s sure to be a big crowd – likely to be our biggest of the season – for a game that has a 110-year history. It’s good that we have the fixture on Boxing Day, giving people the chance to get out of the house and enjoy some fresh air.”
Despite the two clubs’ records – four wins and a draw for Cov, five wins for Mose, 27 tries apiece – their seasons could scarcely have taken a more different hue.
While the Billesley diehards will disagree, Moseley’s scrap to avoid the relegation play-offs is the outcome most pundits foresaw and their recent form, with six winless games capped by last weekend’s yellow card-riddled performance against Doncaster, leaves them in dire need of four points.
Nonetheless, a relegation battle is infinitely preferable to the survival battle that Coventry face. With a 15-point deduction brought by their latest skirmish with the administrator, and a number of players gone, a bottom-four finish looks inevitable, even if a new investor is forthcoming.
