CAMBRIDGE University post grad Ben Maidment is looking forward to the next part of his rugby education when Moseley take on Bedford tomorrow.
The student, who is studying Land Economy at St Edmunds, is set to make his second appearance in the Red and Blacks in a winner-tops-the-group British & Irish Cup clash at Goldington Road.
Both sides are unbeaten during their Pool C campaign, tied on 18 points, and will be playing for a home quarter-final against the runners-up in Pool A – possibly Worcester.
However, the loser could face a trip to Sixways at best or, at worst, Leinster or Cornish Pirates just a few days before they begin their play-off campaigns.
But even though there is so much at stake 22-year-old Maidment said he was itching to build on his try-scoring debut against Esher last Saturday.
“Regardless of what side they put out it is going to be a strong team,” Maidment said.
“It’s not going to be an easy game but the reason I want to play at this standard is to test myself.
“I hope that a higher level of opposition can produce a higher level of performance.
“On a personal note it [my debut] went as well as could have been expected.
“In an ideal world we would have got a better result but overall I was quite happy with it.
“It was my first game at that level and it was good to test myself.
“You learn quickly that you have to sharpen up and that the game is a lot more physical.
“You just can’t get away with things you can at university level.
“Against other students you can run upright into contact and bully people but you can’t do that in the Championship.
“I did that, got hit back early on and that made me think.” Maidment managed to do that with the clarity expected of an Oxbridge student.
And he marked his first appearance with a two scores, one a crash ball from two metres and a second from a five-metre scrum.
That drew praise from head coach Ian Smith.
He pointed out Moseley’s threat from the base of the scrum had not been as potent as in previous seasons.
That is one of the reasons why the Billesley outfit find themselves in threat of relegation and the whole reason for Maidment’s recruitment just before transfer deadline. And he accepted the decent run in the cup would be no consolation if the worst comes to the worst.
“Everyone would much rather Moseley stay in the Championship than do well in the cup,” he admitted.
“But it’s nice that we are and we have to use these games to build momentum for the play-offs.
“We have this match and a quarter final to put things right from the week before and then we go to Plymouth.”
MOSELEY’S HOME PLAY-OFF FIXTURES: Saturday March 19: Birmingham & Solihull (3pm). Friday March 25: Esher (7.30pm). Saturday April 16: Plymouth Albion (3pm).
