The Old Yards beat the weather by playing their Midlands Division 3 west/north fixture on Moseley's all-weather pitch and then went on to beat their opponents, Moseley Oak, in a thrilling game that remained in the balance until the last kick of the match in the tenth minute of stoppage time. The hosts consist very much of talented and youthful players who are waiting for the call into Moseley's national league squad having graduated through colts and student rugby. Earlier in the season the Yards lost the home fixture and were looking for revenge as well as points to move them up the league table.
Old Yardleians made it clear from the start they intended to dominate the forward battle. The return of Peter Butler helped the visitors powerful eight drive back the Moseley Oak scrum at a rate of knots. The first half was initially dominated by the kickers with James McBoot kicking four penalties for Old Yardleians while Moseley's scrum half replied with two for the home side. Then came the move of the game when Old Yardleians outside half McBoot kicked an up and under landing just over the half way line. Chasing centre Dave Rimmer leapt highest and palmed the ball to exciting wing Adam Walker. Still forty-five metres out, Walker outsprinted three defenders to score the game's first try. McBoot added the conversion to make it 19 - 6 to the Yards at half time. The second half began with Moseley on the attack but the visitor's defence held strong. Some crunching tackles were made especially by scrum half Lee Purdey. Even when given an opportunity of a penalty in front of the posts Moseley ran the ball, a decision that would come back to haunt them later. Five minutes on Moseley were awarded and converted a penalty from half way. The game then flowed up and down the pitch with strong runs from Old Yardleian forwards Phil Painter, Steve Grainger, Rob Willis and Roger Lazenby, while Moseley's back line continued to threaten. With ten minutes to go smart thinking from a quick penalty saw the Moseley Oak number eight break through some poor tackles to score in the corner making it 14 - 19. Coach Gary Robinson sent on the rampaging Alan Arkell to give Old Yardleians renewed fight which was shown in the further domination of the rucks and mauls. Then in the fourth minute of injury time Moseley collected a loose ball, went wide and scored in the corner. An excellent touch line conversion gave them a 21-19 lead. Yards kicked off with the referee indicating that there was one minute left to play. Moseley secured the ball from the kick off but then their indiscipline saw them concede a penalty. Up stepped McBoot who, with the last kick of the game bisected the posts to give Old Yardleians a deserved 22 - 21 victory.
This coming saturday, weather permitting, sees 3 home games. The First xv play Newcastle in a league match, the Devs xv have a tough game against Bournville and the Vandals host Kidderminster.
We wish a happy new year to some of the friends of the club
Haydn Rees, John Houston, Paul Smyllie and Clare Jordan (rugby staff at the Academy)
John Madden (Bridgnorth rfc)
Adrian Butler (Old Salts)
Dave Dennis (Spartans rfc)
Matt Durber, Nick Mohammed (Moseley Oak rfc)
Steve Leahy (Old Halesonians)
Jan Ogan (Eds rfc)
Eddie Lahive
Sad news has recently reached us telling of the death of Eddie Lahive on Boxing Day following years of suffering from emphysema. Eddie was a true servant of the Greater Birmingham Rugby community as a player and later as an official. His funeral will be on friday 8th January at Our Lady of the Wayside in Shirley at !.00 pm with cremation at Robin Hood followed by a gathering at Edwardians RFC. May he rest in peace.