Match Preview

Chiefs v Moseley

by Big Bob

Perhaps “top of the table clash” is going too far but both clubs are in the best half of the table, both with ten points. The Chiefs are at fourth in the league with Moseley at one place behind. Both have won two and lost one but with the Chiefs having played Leeds and the Cornish Pirates they have clearly had the more testing opening games.

Moseley have scored 73 points this season with 39 against, in comparison to our 91 and 45 respectively. Both clubs have fly-halves who are effective with the boot; Moseley’s recent signing from Leeds, Richard Vasey having scored eight penalties and seven conversions, to Gareth Steenson’s nine penalties and seven conversions. If we look at tries scored, both clubs have a player with an average of one per game so far, and both are wingers! these being Charlie Sharples and our very own Josh Draniniu. So will it be close?

Sharples is one of nine Moseley players who are dual registered with Gloucester, another being centre Henry Trinder, who has two tries to his name this campaign, so we had better not be complacent – but have you ever heard PD be complacent?

In league matches since 1997 to date, the two clubs have met each other 16 times with the Chiefs winning on 13 occasions. With the Chiefs having done the double over Mosley last season and as you would have to go back to 1997 for the last time that Exeter lost at home to the midlands club, the omens appear good. The Rugby Times predict that the Birmingham-based club will finish in the same position that they did last time, this being at tenth, the same magazine believing that we will finish just behind Leeds, so another pointer at to the likely outcome.

Will PD have one eye on the following weeks away clash with the current leaders Bedford, (never an easy match) and rest a few players? I am writing this before Monday’s United match with the Plymouth Warriors. John Lockyer mentioned whilst commenting on today’s Pirates match, that a lot of Exeter players will be playing tomorrow for a place in the first team, last week Sean Marsden did enough to force his way in, will anyone do likewise this week – let’s discuss from Tuesday morning onwards. If one or more of the Exeter squad force themselves into next Saturday’s squad then they may face Exeter old boy, George Davis who moved to the midlands from Plymouth in the close season.

We are at home, we have a big talented squad, we have a lot of supporters, we have the Oggy Man, we have Big Chief Running Maul and we have to win if we serious about promotion – which we still are. We will win but we will have to train hard and work hard (and shout hard) in the process.

Bring it on.

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