Mose are run close but Park’s tyros come up just short

BIRMINGHAM Moseley were made to hold on as for a brief moment it looked as if Rosslyn Park could secure a second draw in two weeks.

Park’s young guns tried three times to run from their own line as time ran out, but the visitors eventually kicked out to bring the final whistle.

On-loan Harlequin Sam Aspland-Robinson showed why his inclusion in the England Under-20s squad is well deserved, and at times scrum-half Rory Brand seened a little too quick-witted for some of his senior colleagues.

Mose director of rugby Kevin Maggs was a relieved man at the end.

He said: “We started slow and finished slow. In between we played some good stuff.

“We’ve got some work on and the boys will know that but I think Park did well to come back at us and take nothing from them. In fact, they could have nicked it at the end.”

Park head coach Kieran Power added: “To be honest, from where we were at the start of the season we can be happy with this performance. You could see that they were happy to close the game out, but in general the boys are getting confidence and you can build on that.”

Harry Leonard’s sure boot opened the scoring after just two minutes before Charlie Piper found himself at the bottom of the heap after a 25 metre catch and drive. Leonard claimed the extras.

Both sides moved the ball about well for the next 20 minutes but the visitors looked the more dangerous, resulting in James Williams finishing near the posts and converting his own try. He drew the scores level with a penalty two minutes later.

Just on half-time Drew Cheshire put the visitors into the lead as he shot down the line and rounded towards the posts to ease Williams’ conversion.

Just four minutes into the second half Chris Brightwell extended the lead following a good drive. Williams again claimed the extras.

Four minutes after that Park held a solid scrum in their opponents’ 22 and David Vincent whizzed in under the posts, Leonard claimed the extras again.

However, a quick-thinking Williams restored Mose’s advantage by grabbing the loose ball and converting after George Oram was stopped a metre short.

Moseley’s Jacques Le Roux was sent to the sideline for tackling without arms and Park moved forward with Brand wriggling over by the posts to set up a frenetic eight minutes.