Moseley's last cup final was many years ago. I remember a simply epic semi-final when they managed to knock out the mighty Leicester. I remember walking home after the game proudly wearing my Moseley rosette (I have it still), and I remember the final. They drew with Gloucester and the cup was shared. Mike Perry dropped a goal and I shouted myself hoarse.

So, as AramisTyke and I entered Twickenham on a sunny April Saturday morning I confided in the worthy fellow that I would not begrudge Moseley this cup. Looking at all the Moseley folk arriving around us, I begrudged it even less. But deep down I wanted Leeds to win, and I expected them to win comfortably. Most people did.

AramisTyke and I turned up bright and early to take in the game between Hartpury College and Clifton. There was plenty of Tykes interest here, with Ronnie Regan coaching Clifton and David Rees playing full back for them. A good game, this, with the youth and speed of Hartpury finally overcoming the experience of Clifton.  

DartagnanTyke arrived just before the end, having flown back from his South African holiday at some ungodly hour. He offered us some kudu biltong, and we wandered off to find our seats for the final.

The affluent travelling Tykes support was crowded together into one block, with those in the cheaper seats in an enclave further forward. We found our seats, and folded ourselves in, just behind a bloke who spoke French a lot and may well have had a signed flag.

Just before the start one of the more eagle-eyed Tykes spotted that which we had all been waiting for. The Challenger was on the premises. Curiously, the beloved mascot went around the unoccupied sides of the ground first, waving at rows of empty seats. Finally, it reached our corner and appeared to conduct the traditional chant of "Weeee Wannnn Terr-eeeee". Thankfully, it kept a low profile after this initial effort.

Leeds started as expected. Hinton at full back, a back line of Blackett, Vickerman, Barrow and Goodridge, and di Bernado and Bedford at half back. The pack was MacDonald, Rawlinson, Gomez, Lund, Pendlebury, Clark, Fourie and Oakley. The weather was sunny but the pitch was still damp from the heavy rain the evening before.

Moseley got the first chance to score, with a penalty against Clark in the first minute. The kick went wide, and Blacks ran it back strongly. The ball was lost, and Moseley got another chance. Keeping with their successful tactics from the league encounter, they kicked over the Leeds defence and set off. The move ended when their centre ran into Hints and started some theatrics that would have made Olivier Azam proud. As he writhed on the ground, Roberts the Ref gave the penalty and a warning to Hints. Penalty won, the centre rose Lazarus-like and watched the kick go over to make it 0-3 with three minutes gone.

Leeds now got their first chance of some pressure, and started to move the ball around. A penalty came on half-way, which was kicked to touch. The line out won, the forwards rumbled the ball around and eventually Moseley conceded a penalty in front. The Doc slotted the kick to even things up at 3-3.

Leeds continued to have all the possession and applied most of the pressure. Mr Roberts warned Moseley as their defence got desperate and more and more penalties were conceded. On 10 minutes, Leeds had a line on Moseley's 5 metre line. A catch and drive, and Shrek was stopped just short. This was to turn out to be a crucial moment. If Leeds had scored then ...

Moseley withstood more pressure but Leeds could not convert almost total dominance into any points. Pudding went close to the line again, but too often the last pass went down or the ball was knocked on. On 17, Leeds lost the ball on the Moseley 22. Moseley cleared, and the ball was hacked on. A foot race to the line developed, and the Moseley man was over under the Leeds sticks, totally against the run of play. The kick was made and Leeds were behind 3-10.

Still more Leeds pressure followed, but Moseley kept tackling and tackling. All it seemed to need was that one moment to put a Leeds man over, and we would be on our expected way. But that moment never came. The only score came after 22 minutes when the Doc added another penalty to make it 6-10.

Leeds were trying everything to break Moseley's resolve. Clark tried changing his shirt. Jaffa kicked over and was nearly away, but the ball rolled out. The Challenger got up, but seemed to think better of it.

The defining moment of the game came after 28 minutes. Moseley took a line out on half way, and spun the ball wide. It was their first attack of the game and, thanks to a somewhat lateral final pass, their man was over at the corner. The kick was good and, at 6-17, Leeds were looking at a serious situation.

The remainder of the half was much like the first 20 minutes. Leeds had most of the possession, and did most of the attacking. But the final pass was going down, and Moseley were tackling like men possessed. The final confirmation that it was not to be our afternoon came just before the half when the Doctor missed a penalty from the Moseley 22, nearly in front. 6-17 down at the half, this was going to be some comeback.

Gloucester supporters were starting to arrive for their game by now, so the Tykes fans' view of the second half was often obstructed. For some, this was probably a good thing.

Moseley kicked off the second half, and some preliminary whiff whaff developed between the backs. Moseley managed some pressure early on, and Leeds were now missing tackles. A penalty from a scrum gave Moseley an easy chance for three points, which they took to make it 6-20, and Leeds were staring at the proverbial mountain to climb.

On 46, Pala'amo replaced Big Mac, who was off for a blood injury. Leeds were now playing with obvious urgency, but nothing seemed to come off. Wild passes went down, balls were dropped, and there was always the possibility that Moseley would break away.

Substitutions were tried. After 48, Ma'asi and Myall replaced Rawlo and Shrek. Shrek had never really shone; was he really match fit and ready? It didn't seem to help. The game followed the same pattern: lots of pressure from Leeds, stout defence from Moseley, and Leeds dropping the ball at the crucial moment.

As the final quarter started, Moseley started to mount some attacks. A drop goal that would really have finished matters was charged down, but they were starting to have more possession in the Leeds half.

Mathie and Hepworth replaced Beds and Vicks on 55, and immediately set about trying to turn things out. Sharkie get things moving, and the twinkling feet twinkled now and again, but neither good get past Moseley. Both Pauls joined in shortly after, replacing Pudding and Wheels, but they too failed to have the immediate impact needed. Big Mac returned to replace Wine Gum.

More Leeds breaks followed, but they were still half breaks. The ball was still being dropped too often. Moseley looked tired, but time was rapidly running out. The big clock behind them told Moseley there were only 10 minutes left. They cracked on 65 minutes. Good work by DP and Maisie put Fosi through, but he dropped the ball on the line. Leeds managed to disrupt the Moseley scrum that resulted, DP picked the ball up, and after a couple of phases Big Mac was over. With an easy kick to come, Leeds were potentially 7 behind against a tired team with 10 minutes to play. Game on! Until the Doc missed the kick to leave it at 11-20, that is.

With two scores still needed, Leeds carried on attacking and kept on dropping the ball. The feet twinkled, but were called back for crossing. With 6 to go, Jaffa collected a kick through in the Leeds 22 and seemed to forget where his touchline was, and ran out. Moseley took the ball from the line, and worked it to their stand-off, who dropped the goal to end the game. 11-23 with 5 to go.

As a consolation, Leeds were to have the final word. They never gave up, and nearly scored on 78 following a chip over from the Doc. They did score with the last play of the game. With the clock showing time up, Mr Roberts have Leeds a penalty inside the Moseley 22. HP took it, and Country crashed over, watched by a Moseley defence who knew they had won. Hints dropped a goal for the conversion to leave it at 18-23. Moseley started to celebrate.

The difference between the teams? The five points were the two missed kicks from the Doc. The bigger difference was probably just determination, the luck of the bounce and Moseley's sheer bloody mindedness once they were ahead.

A disappointed set of Tykes supporters gave both teams a decent cheer, and then set off to locate the bars. The Moseley fans doing likewise turned out to be a likeable bunch; maybe some fellow Tykes also didn't begrudge them their win too much.

An hour or so later we returned for the main event of the day, between Cardiff and Gloucester. Being seated behind the Gloucester support, a quick committee meeting decided that the Tykes would support Cardiff. A wise decision, as it turned out. Cardiff produced a performance that was worth the entry money on its own. A lot of Tykes visibly perked up when they realised that Glaws were getting right royally stuffed by a lot more then we did.

AramisTyke, DartagnanTyke and I were glad we had not forked out for the steak pie back at Leeds. A convivial pub crawl along the Thames took us back to our digs, where we chatted to some Gloucester folk about the day's proceedings. We'll seem them again in the Premiership next year ...

Finally, there were a fair few folk in the Tykes "supporters" area at Twickers bad-mouthing the team. One bloke's criticism of one particular player verged on the offensive at times. Please, can we just remember that this bunch of blokes has got us promoted? They have won by my reckoning 32 games, and lost 3. That is not bad. We assume that those criticising the team will be at Plymouth on Saturday; we'll see you in front of the beer hut to discuss this further ...

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