Birmingham Moseley 17, Chinnor 22

CHINNOR showed more resilience to beat hosts Birmingham Moseley and extend their fine run in a bruising National League 1 encounter.

Tries from Jason Worrall (2) and Joe Dancer helped the Thame-based side make it six games unbeaten.

The win also saw Chinnor climb up to fourth in the table, while they remain five points off top spot.

It was a victory built on another spirited and physical effort after a scintillating opening 12 minutes saw the visitors open up a 17-0 lead.

Moseley levelled the contest after 68 minutes, but Chinnor responded well to go back in front through Worrall’s ninth try of the season.

A tense finale then ensued with the visitors having to keep the ball on their own try-line, but they dug deep to secure their first win on the road since October 12.

Director of rugby Matt Williams made eight changes, four positional, with Ben Thomas, Josh Pieterse, Willie Ryan and Kieran Goss named in the XV.

Chinnor made a lightning start, catching their hosts on the hop, and took the lead on three minutes.

The ball was worked wide to Ofisa Treviranus, who brilliantly offloaded to Pete Laverick and the centre broke the gain line.

Although he was tackled 20m out, the ball was quickly recycled to Worrall, who glided over. Fly-half Laurence May converted to make it 7-0.

Chinnor kept the hammer down and could have doubled their lead moments later when May evaded a tackle and sent Callum Watson racing towards the posts. The scrum-half was caught by Aquile Smith and the winger was penalised at the ruck and subsequently yellow-carded.

Chinnor then settled for three points and May slotted over the penalty to make it 10-0.

Remarkably, it was soon 17 unanswered points when fine work from Goss sent Dancer racing over, May adding the extras.

Moseley were stunned and the home crowd silent, but they steadily grew into a game which had already featured several big hits.

Penalties allowed the home side to enjoy some territory and possession, however they were never able to break through an impressive defensive effort.

Chinnor had hooker Nick Selway sin-binned towards the end of the half, while three Ben Palmer penalties cut the advantage to eight points.

Another Palmer penalty reduced the visitors’ lead to 17-12 as the hosts, without really troubling the visitors, worked their way into the contest.

Jake Ashby’s introduction at scrum-half for Chinnor seemed to coincide with an increase in tempo and Moseley found themselves back down to 14 for ten minutes when Jacques Le Roux was yellow-carded.

The visitors looked to take advantage and were seemingly in a strong position when driving towards the line.

But the ball came loose and Morgan Dawes picked up on his own five-metre line, evaded a diving Ashby, and raced over half-way. The flanker then fed Smith, but Dancer had brilliantly covered the ground and tackled the winger into touch.

However, it was a little high and the Chinnor flanker was yellow carded as Moseley chose to kick for the corner.

It paid off for them as they launched a driving maul, before Dawes charged over. Crucially, Palmer was unable to convert as the sides were locked at 17-17 with 12 minutes to go.

The character of this side has been so impressive recently and they showed it yet again.

Having forced their hosts back, pick and goes sucked Moseley in before Worrall dived over. May’s conversion attempt hit a post and bounced out, but they led 22-17 with seven minutes to play.

Chinnor looked in control, especially when Moseley were penalised at their own lineout deep in the visitors’ half.

However, a tense final few minutes ensued after the hosts were awarded a penalty at the resultant scrum and again kicked to the corner.

Chinnor brilliantly stole the lineout and then bravely kept the ball without grounding over their own line.

It was a dogged effort that epitomised what had been a bruising contest and the full-time whistle was gratefully received.

Birmingham Moseley: Hodgson, Smith, Tonks, Fatiaki, Davetanivalu, Palmer, Arr, Titchard-Jones, Austin, Tideswell, Wright, Lawrence, Xiourouppa, Dawes, Le Roux.
Reps: Biggs, Foreman, Spink, Crofts, Jolly.

Chinnor: C Ryan, Goss, Worrall, Laverick, Yawayawa, May, Watson, Pieterse, Selway, McNulty, Ramshaw, Thomas, Treviranus, Dancer, W Ryan.
Reps: Southworth, George, Ehizode, Tyas, Ashby.