Mose are on Bress behaviour
Sep 5 2004
Moseley 31 Manchester 14
MOSELEY ushered in the Ian Smith era with an impressive three-try win over an inventive Manchester side.
Smith, who took over as head coach from Steve Ojomoh earlier in the summer, was delighted as two of his new signings ran in the hosts' scores.
Winger Nathan Bressington caught the eye with two, the first an electrifying chip and chase down the sideline, and second-row David Hallman finished off a well worked catch and drive move just after half-time.
Bressington then completed his double three minutes before the end after an intuitive crossfield kick from fly-half Ollie Thomas.
Thomas was the other star of the day bagging a personal haul of 16 points with his pin-point place kicking.
It was the young stand-off who set Moseley on their way with a penalty in the 10th minute.
He then added two more over the course of the next 20 minutes before Manchester mounted any sort of response.
When they did make it into the Moseley half they spoiled their good work when hooker Mike Armstrong was yellow carded.
That set up a period of scrappy play in which neither side could string together enough phases to threaten their opponents line. The half appeared to be petering out until Bressington was fed by Thomas on the right sideline.
With his first touch the pacy wideman shrugged off Owen Lucas and with his second he chipped past fullback Tim Foley before gathering the loose ball and scoring his first try for his new club as Moseley closed the half leading 14-0.
Within seconds of the restart Bressington was causing Manchester more problems as his break set up an attacking line-out. Adam Caves' throw in was collected by Richard Stott and the Moseley maul drove Hallman over the line.
Five minutes later Manchester responded with a similar close range try through Gareth Rawlings, converted by Andre Wilson, but the hosts were not to be denied.
Fifteen minutes from time Thomas landed a drop-goal and with three minutes left it was his intelligent kick to the corner that gifted Bressington his second try. James Batt's late score was just a consolation.
SCORERS: Moseley - tries: Bressington (2), Hallman; conversions: Thomas (2); penalties: Thomas (3); drop-goal: Thomas.
Manchester - tries: Rawlings, Batt; conversions: Wilson (2).