Stortford undone by Moore in close combat

A CIARAN Moore try was the difference between these sides on a day when the weather triumphed over the rugby.

The game was frequently interrupted by handling errors and penalties, as two strong packs cancelled each other out, with the wind and rain making expansive rugby extremely difficult.

It was the home side who eventually managed a breakthrough after 16 minutes, courtesy of a clever chip kick in midfield by George Cullen, collected by Sam Winter, whose short pass gave Nick Hankin just enough room to run in under the posts for a try, converted by Cullen.

The gap was narrowed after only three minutes though, when Ryan Roach touched down from the back of a driving maul, after Moseley had decisively won a kicking duel.

Stortford enjoyed the better of the rest of the first half, but had to settle for a Cullen penalty after 32 minutes as their only further reward.

Playing with the wind in the second half, Mosely had an edge in territory and exploited this with a try from a driving maul, touched down by Moore and converted by Sam Hollingsworth. Cullen was unlucky after 70 minutes, when a difficult penalty shot at goal came out off an upright, after Rory Banks had won a good turnover.

Both sides battled hard thereafter, with a Hollingsworth penalty the only other score.