King key as OEs bounce back for victory

A STORMING second half performance saw Elthamians end a run of three successive defeats in style with this seven-try victory over Birmingham Moseley at College Meadow.

In a scrappy, stop-start opening 40 minutes, Moseley opened the scoring with an early try from impressive No.8 Ciaran Moore.

But, despite being reduced to 13 men following yellow cards for Joe Carlise and Adam Preocanin, OEs fought back to take a narrow 12-7 half-time lead thanks to tries from wing Alex Brown and lock Ian Kench.

The game’s pivotal moment came in the opening five minutes of the second period when Elthamians scored two tries in quick succession through Brown and replacement Tom White, to open up a 26-5 lead.

Scrum-half Ollie Claxton added a fifth score on 57 minutes after a wonderful break from Max Wilkins, and although Chris Brightwell gave the visitors a brief glimmer of hope when he forced his way over after a series of strong forward drives, an interception try from OEs centre Kieran Moffat ended any Moseley hopes of an unlikely comeback.

Scrum-half Rob Lewis dived over for the visitors’ third score with five minutes remaining but it was Elthamians who were to have the last word when man of the match No.8 Ben King charged over from a driven lineout with the last play of the game.