THE early generosity that cost Moseley their place in the British & Irish Cup last weekend, might yet deprive them of their place in the Championship as it reared its ugly head at Brickfields once more.
Just as Ian Smith’s men allowed Worcester to stroll into a 50-3 lead at Sixways seven days ago, they let Plymouth settle their early nerves last night by affording them a 27-3 advantage inside the first hour.
Then, and only then, did they manage to breach the hosts’ defence with late scores from Neil Mason and Anthony Carter. But in truth they came too late to affect a result that puts them in a deep hole.
Albion are already six points clear with only five games remaining.
And Moseley have only themselves to blame.
While their effort and commitment cannot be faulted, their tendency to save their best attacking until they are effectively out of the game is becoming an enormous problem.
Head coach Smith gambled with his selection with Andy Borgen called in at fly-half in place of former Albion player Brad Davies and Ed Styles coming in on the wing for his first start in three weeks.
If the South African’s selection was designed to unleash the Moseley three-quarters it didn’t work at all. Indeed, Borgen lasted just 11 minutes into the second half before he was replaced by Davies.
Aside from the individual endeavours of Bevon Armitage, who dragged his side screaming over the gainline whenever he got the ball, Moseley were entirely impotent out wide.
The only opportunity they produced in the first half came after 25 minutes when their forwards thundered through midfield and quick ball gave Styles the room to slip outside Sione Tu’ipulotu.
Unfortunately for the visitors the Loughborough University student was dragged down just a couple of metres short.
Their offensive problems were clear for all to see as having failed to force their over from a five-metre scrum, they spent the next 10 phases crabbing across field before home hooker Gareth Evans turned the ball over.
By that time Mose were already 7-0 down after the Red Line parted like the Red Sea defending a lineout through which Tom Kessell sped.
Albion fly-half Alex Davies added a conversion, penalty and drop goal for a 13-0 lead at the break.
Ollie Thomas kicked his first points seconds after the restart but he also missed two other penalties that would have kept the game competitve. Mason and Carter crossed in the 65th and 73rd minutes respectively but they always had the look of consolations. But they weren’t.
Albion bagged further scores through Aaron Carpenter, Ryan Hopkins and Cameron Mitchell to secure an important bonus point.
ALBION: Tu’ipulotu; Lee, Mercer, Fisilau, Mitchell; Davies A, Kessell (Cushion 69); Porter, Evans, Hopkins, Copeland, Skelding, Stephen, Sprange (Watts-Jones 69), Carpenter. Replacements: Johns, Morton, O’Meara, Hotson, Hocking
MOSELEY: Carter; Thomas, Armitage, Reay (Bishop 53), Styles; Borgen (Davies B 51), De La Harpe (Taylor 51); Williams, Caves, Sigley (Voisey 59), Lyons, Stott (Ellery 72), Mason, Pons (Maltman 51), Pennycook. Replacements: Warner
