MOSELEY 30 OTLEY 19
This was a perfect opportunity for Otley to put some daylight between themselves and the teams at the foot of the table but that chance was squandered and in the process Moseley were handed a lifeline for survival.
It was Moseley who approached the game in the most professional way as they obviously realised that victory was vital to their campaign. Their young side showed the most appetite and were quick to capitalise on the dour Otley performance.
Otley were without points machine Simon Binns and several other influential players but the replacements should have had the armoury to deal with their Birmingham University-based opponents.
Otley were soon on the back foot and Moseley fly-half Greg McDonald, who kicked intelligently all match, converted an early penalty chance.
The Otley side then started to show an interest and the balance of power changed. Nevertheless, simple penalty chances were wasted by Otley with Dan Clappison being unsuccessful with all three attempts.
Otley finally got on the scoresheet when Mark Kirkby raced away and linked with Neil Law who delivered the final inside pass to put Rob Whatmuff over, Clappison converting. Unfortunately, Whatmuff then had to withdraw from the action due to a chest injury.
Moseley responded quickly with full-back James Hinkins coming up on the outside to score, McDonald converting.
Otley then enjoyed the territorial advantage but were unable to finish off anything and went in 10-7 down at the break.
Things couldn't have started worse in the second half when Otley's restart did not travel the 10 metres. Moseley gained impetus from the attacking position and Otley conceded two tries within five minutes, both Tom McIntosh and Andy Gray walking through lacklustre tackling, McDonald converting the first.
Otley then belatedly introduced scrum-half Andy Brown and hooker Mark Luffman who both gave the side some much-needed direction. It was not long before David Hall went over and Clappison converted to reduce the arrears to 8 points.
Then came a key point in proceedings when Otley were awarded a penalty under the posts but unbelievably opted to scrum again rather than take the three points. Moseley defended the scrum and cleared their lines.
Otley then found themselves back in their own 22 and McDonald hit another penalty to extend their lead again. Things then got worse for Otley when Andy Brown and Mark Kirkby had to leave the field with injuries.
Further embarrassment was endured when Moseley centre Simon Brading tried a kick upfield which he sliced badly. Otley assumed that the ball would bounce into touch but the ball sat up and fell into the arms of the on-rushing winger Andy Gray who raced in from 60 metres out.
Otley spent the added time on the home line and managed to grab a consolation try when Neil Law broke through and fed Will Darby who went over in the corner. Unfortunately this was too little too late to remove the blushes from the Otley faces.
Moseley: Hinkins, Gregory, Brading, Cox, Gray, McDonald, Worsley (Thomas 9), Clarke, Protherough, Buxton, Hadley, Stott (Hunt 21), McIntosh, Mellors, Evans
Otley: Hawkins, Darby, Law, Whatmuff (Billington 36), Kirkby (P Hall 77), Clappison, Kendra (Brown 47, Clarke 67), Pogson, Sayers (Luffman 47), D Hall (Hazelton 62), I Carroll, J Oakes, Rule, Tiffany, Thorpe (Holmes 62)
Referee: N Williams (RFU)
.MATCH STATISTICS
Moseley 30
Tries: Gray (2), Hinkins, McIntosh
Cons: McDonald (2)
Pens: McDonald (2)
Otley 19
Tries: Whatmuff, D Hall, Darby
Cons: Clappison (2)
OSCAR'S MAN OF THE MATCH