MOSELEY: Thomas; Roberts, Trinder, Reay (D Williams, 53), Bressington (Binns, 30); Vasey, Pasqualin (Taylor, 48); N Williams (Buxton, 66), Caves (Oselton, 66), Davis (Arnold, 48), Muldowney, Stott, Mason,. Bignell (Whitney, 48), Evans.
MANCHESTER: Knowles; Wynne (Coulbeck, 40), Wilson, Rawlings (Parrott ,40), Irlam; Wainwright (Eaton, 48), Runciman; Birchall (Collier, 65), Oxley (Gould, 65), Flynn (Mantell, 32; Owen, 35), Ralph, Norris, Lloyd, Dew, Moss.

Referee: Llyr Apgeraint Roberts (RFU).

SCORERS: Moseley – tries: Trinder (3), Vasey, Roberts, Arnold, Mason; conversions: Vasey (4), Thomas; penalty: Thomas.

Manchester – try - Knowles; conversion: Knowles.

Moseley 48 Manchester 7

Moseley enjoyed a seven-try romp to record an emphatic 48-7 victory against bottom-placed Manchester.

The first half was relatively even with Moseley tackling robustly to thwart some spirited and enterprising play by the visitors. But Manchester showed why they are without a win by making errors that led to tries by Henry Trinder and Richard Vasey. Ollie Thomas converted one and scored a penalty to leave Moseley comfortably placed at 15-0 at half-time.


Moseley’s superiority and slick interpassing told in the second half and they ran in another five tries - two more from Trinder to record his hat-trick, plus others from Neil Mason, Paul Arnold and Tristan Roberts, with Richard Vasey converting four after taking over kicking duties. Manchester full-back Joe Knowles scored a consolation try, which he converted.

Much of the second half was played with uncontested scrums after Manchester lost two props to injury and they were also reduced to 14 late in the day when Tom Eaton was yellow-carded for obstruction.


Moseley’s current joint ninth place in the league leaves the pre-season target of a top half finish a very realistic prospect. Next week a tough trip to sixth-placed London Welsh before Newbury visit Birmingham on Saturday Dec 20th.

Birmingham Post report