NOTTINGHAM leapt to second place in time for Christmas,
but there was little cheer in the performance against Championship
strugglers Moseley in front of 1,658 at Meadow Lane.
The side, who have ruthlessly dealt with all-comers at home this
season, struggled to find any sort of rhythm in an 18-9
triumph.
Alex Lewington's opening try just before the break was the Green
and Whites' only real attack of the first-half.
And it wasn't until Tim Streather crossed for Nottingham's
second after the hour mark, finishing off a move that twice crossed
the width of the pitch, that the hosts looked like their true
selves.
Moseley might be a side struggling near the foot of the league
table, but they started the brighter of the two sides.
The visitors suffocated the hosts with their attacking
endeavour and starved the Green and Whites of ball.
Still, Nottingham opened the scoring through James Arlidge after
17 minutes.
Even then, in blustery conditions the seemingly straight forward
kick from 30m and just to the right of the posts was difficult to
get on target.
The wind was tougher for Moseley's Oliver Thomas to contend with
when, minutes later, his attempted penalty reply was held up in the
air and floated shy of the near post.
For the second time in as many weeks Ryan Hough impressed at
short notice, called into the side as a starting replacement for
Rhys Crane who failed a late fitness test on his injured calf.
Regardless of the personnel, there was little platform for
Nottingham's back to work with as the pack was drawn into a
wrestling match.
Arlidge was forced to get creative in an attempt to crack the
visitors. His chip chase attempt in goal, however, was quickly
nullified.
It wasn't until centre Joe Munro made some headway down the
middle, beating a tackle and creating space for Tim Streather to
explore, that Nottingham could pounce.
Streather shrugged off two tackles and found Lewington in
support out-wide, with the winger touching down in the corner.
Arlidge's attempted conversion hit the post.
Moseley, however, refused to yield and even hit the lead after
half time as consecutive penalties by Hlyn Hughes, following the
sin-binning of lock Dan Montagu for a late tackle, put them 9-8
up.
The advantage was only fleeting as Arlidge edged the Green and
Whites ahead before Streather finished off the finest piece of
attacking work of the afternoon by darting over for a try in the
64th minute.
Nottingham hold second place for Christmas, but Bedford can
knock them off their perch if they beat Rotherham on Boxing
Day.
Nottingham Rugby 18 (Lewington, Streather
Tries; Arlidge Conv; Arlidge 2 Pen) Moseley
9 (Hughes 3 Pen)
Nottingham Rugby: 15 D Jackson 14 A
Lewington 13 T Streather 12 J Munro (sub: A Forsyth, 56
mins) 11 R Hough (J Cobden, 77 mins) 10 J Arlidge 9
S Romans 1 M Parr 2 S Malton (S Wright, 76 mins)
3 M Holford (sub: R Bower, 49mins) 4 D Montagu 5 N
Rouse 6 R Cooper 7 B Wilson 8 A Shaw (sub:
Calladine, 56 mins).
Replacements not used: J Quinn, F
Barnham.
Referee: D Gamage Attendance: 1,658