Ford Focus turns into Fiesta
Pilgrimage
By Wildwillie
January 8 2012
The drive down to Birmingham on Saturday was largely uneventful. This gave the Pilgrims time to ponder the burning issues of the day. Where are we stopping for a leak? Will Moseley be doing hot pork baps? How many local real ales will they have on in the bar? Can we win with so many loanees in the team? How will young George Ford get on starting in the number 10 shirt? By 3.15 that afternoon most of the above questions had either been answered or we had a good idea of the answer............
Moseley rugby club is a welcoming venue in the leafy southern suburbs of our second city and it was here where we met up with Leeds supporters from all over the country - literally. Pork baps and ale were consumed in modest quantities until the arrival of Tarquin and the Muskatykes when the bar had to call in extra staff. One unusual feature of the afternoon was the absence of the "Billesley Breeze" - a stiff southwesterley wind which blows down the sloping pitch. Moseley assumed it would appear and elected to play downhill in the first half.
From the kickoff Hohneck took the ball cleanly and drove purposefully into the onrushing defence. A good omen. At the first scrum Mr Davey awarded Leeds a free kick and the elusive Cliff set off up the middle of the park leaving all in his wake. Such was the momentum created that Stevo and Ford were able to get Chris Walker under the posts to the delight of fans from Settle who had made the long journey to see him. Bell added the extras and we were wondering if today was to be the day. Mr Davey reffed the game immaculately and rightly penalised Leeds to let Mose back in at 3-7 but we were soon treated to a second try and young Ford was in the thick of it. His varied play was already causing Mose problems and when he was obstructed after a little dink over the defence Leeds went for the whitewash instead of the 3 points on offer. Jordan Davies, looking like a man on a mission crashed over to make it 3-14 with the extras.
Now although Ford was conducting the 'Neegs attack with flair and aplomb the home side had been making inroads into our defence whenever they got the ball. They rarely kicked possession away and mauled vigorously when they got near our line. It was no surprise when their sprightly number 11 crossed in the corner to keep them in the game. The fullback converted from the touchline and we all felt a frisson of anxiety, 10-14. At this point I felt that if Mose scored the next try we might have wobbled but as it happened our pack got the Kane-train over fro a converted try with about 8 minutes to the break. Was a first half BP imminent? Err no. Another penalty for Mose plus a well taken try made it 20-21 at the break. Game on.
As well as a shaky defence the Leeds scrum had found several reverse gears. However the lineout was superb with Hohneck at his imperious best , ably supported by Big Red and Buzz tidying at the back. The back division looked dangerous with ball in hand so we were sure that there were more tries to come. Too right! Pasties and whisky were consumed during the interval and then we settled down to more entertainment. The BP try came, inevitably from Ford. After the pack had failed to rumble him over the line he darted through a gap close to the posts. 20-28 (Bell's kicking was perfect) Down but by no means out the home 11 again sliced through the young 'Neegs to keep Mose in the game. Having gotten the elusive BP we couldn't contemplate defeat or could we?
Kane obviously didn't share our doubts as he crashed over for his second try to put the game beyond Mose 25-35. The sixth and last Leeds try was also the best, in my opinion. The ever alert Cliff made a sniping run down the touchline in front of the Pilgrims. As he was hauled down he slipped the ball inside to Ford who found Rowan on his inside. The skipper, who had defended hard all afternoon , found himself clear across the whitewash. Game over! Err no - Mose came back right at the death and scored in the corner to secure a deserved BP.
With the final score of 32-42 both sides could take positives from the match. The Leeds defensive coaches looked a bit glum but with a five point win the rest of us had something to smile about. It would be wrong to single out a man of the match. The forwards stuck to their task, supplied good ball and defended well. The backs converted possession into points and the subs injected pace, energy and aggression into the side when they came on.
We enjoyed more hospitality in the clubhouse before a trumphant procession back up the M42! Happy day!
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:01:14:07:25:02 by WildWillie .
One thing standing out for me is how Sean is playing. Seems to have bulked up somewhat and is now a solid performer. Well done Honey, keep it up!
Zandra YaPoI
YaPoI - Yorkshire and Proud of It
'proficiscor in una'
Can't remember that last time we had such a glowing report...oh I know Bedford away c/o yours truly. Seems strange.
Anyhow I've an idea - shovels at the ready; let's pop an angle on the HC turf before the next home game.
Sounds like the faithful who suffered the Donny game got some payback yesterday.
Some of Leeds' play yesterday was as good as any I have seen this season, and if the defence can tighten up we can beat anybody in the play offs.
I wasn't born in Yorkshire but I got here as soon as I could