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BIG MATCH PREVIEW - |
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by Joe Heaton |
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at Billesley, Saturday, April 26th 2008, kick-off 3pm (but come for
lunch!) |
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The affluent county of Surrey, home to many of London’s commuters, is not usually associated with first-class rugby. Esher entered National League Two on promotion from London 1 at the end of season 1999/2000, and gained promotion to National League One at the end of last season. As this is thus the club’s first season at the higher level, the members will have been pleased to have consolidated a place there for next season. Esher and Hersham form part of the Borough of Elmbridge. Esher R.F.C. was formed in 1923, disbanded during WW2, and reformed in 1946. A few years later the club bought a 27 acre ground in Hersham, the present value of which makes the mind boggle. The present set up includes a relatively new club house and four pitches. Moseley played against Esher in National League Two in three seasons 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06. Honours were pretty even but the actual results are now fairly meaningless as both clubs have significantly strengthened their squads in the meantime. The present Esher team is coached by Canadian International, Mike Schmid, who led the club to promotion last season and overseen by the high profile Chairman of Playing, John Inverdale. The leading try scorer for the last two seasons has been winger Matt Moore. The results of Esher’s last four matches are: 19th April v Nottingham Home L 7-31 6th April v Launceston Home L 0-41 29th March v Exeter Away L 0-26 22nd March v B’ham /Solihull Home W 21-17 Moseley currently occupy 11th place in National League One with 53 points with Esher just below in 12th place with 49 points, both clubs having played 29 games. This is the last match of a long and hard season characterised by Moseley’s overall disappointing home record, notwithstanding our splendid victory over Cornish Pirates last Saturday. It seems a very long time ago that the club won the opening match of the season so convincingly at Nottingham and yet the men in Green now occupy third place in the League). Saturday’s match will be the thirtieth and last league game of the season. Let us hope that the players put on a show and finish it with an enjoyable performance not least for our excellent supporters but also for the many former Moseley stars who will be attending the Old Players Re-union before the game. |
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