EDF ENERGY NATIONAL TROPHY FINAL
Leeds Carnegie 18 Moseley 23

Gareth Taylor became the first Moseley captain in the club’s 136-year history to lift a trophy at the most famous stadium in rugby – and not find a Gloucesterman hanging on the other side.

When current president Derek Nutt did so in 1982, unfortunately for him Cherry and White skipper Steve Mills was there to help, after the two famous institutions battled each other to a two-hour 12-12 standstill.

Thankfully for Taylor and his wonderful, wonderful team this was no half-measure of a triumph. Moseley were undisputed and deserved winners and whatever the ungracious Neil Back said afterwards about the victors having just one cup final this season set against Leeds’ 35, Taylor need simply point to the scoreboard.

Instead, when the stalwart scrum half dragged himself wearily up the steps to collect the spoils it was another Red and Black hero, Andy Binns, who was there to offer assistance.

Like the John Player Cup, the EDF Energy National Trophy has a pair of handles but unlike the old tin-pot both of them were grasped by hands from Birmingham.

That is not to say there wasn’t a hint of Cherry to the triumph. A brilliant display from Jack Adams, a typically clinical score from Dan Norton and an excellent effort with the boot from Tristan Roberts laid the foundations for a famous win. But on top of those foundations were indestructible bricks forged in the furnace of a relegation battle.

While the Moseley backs grabbed all the points, the forwards set up the success with a pugnacious and indomitable performance. They would not be quelled. For a second time in three weeks they matched their full time opponents in the scrum and fought like men possessed in the loose. To name names would be an invidious process.

But let’s do it anyway. Earlier this month, when the sides met in the league at Billesley Common, Leeds gorged themselves on the Moseley lineout and for the fact he helped his team to parity in this area on the highest stage of all, huge credit must go to Adam Caves.

But the hooker not only hit his targets at the set-piece he was also a destructive force in defence and unrelenting in attack, his was a deserved man of the match award.

As he slurped down his well-earned champagne though, he might have wondered whether the bottle could have instead belonged to any other member of his pack. It would have been a brave man who tried to wrestle it from him, however.

The Moseley eight, ten if you include replacements, were the embodiment of a Red and Black force that would not be denied. Not by swaggering Leeds, intoxicated on their own self-satisfaction, not by anybody.

But that unity dissolved a little at the end of a tumultuous afternoon as the difference between supporters, coaches and players, was neatly underlined.

While the Billesley hordes bounced in the stands and their victorious heroes cavorted on the pitch, the men with the brains behind this famous triumph strode about with little more than a satisfied glow.

As happy as they clearly were, Ian Smith and Don Caskie looked as though they had just negotiated a particularly tricky piece of self-assembly furniture rather than led a famous old club to its first piece of silverware in three decades. There was a distinct lack pogo-ing and bear-hugs.

Much of that is down to the fact that if Moseley do not win two of their remaining four league matches, there is a strong chance their newly acquired cup will adorn National Two’s most weighed down trophy cabinet.

But that’s for another day. Moseley must be allowed their time in the sunlight, they must enjoy their moment because days such as these come round so rarely.

As was said after the outstanding semi final victory over Exeter, this is a club that has been to hell and back twice since it was last in this part of London. Gloucester were a hated enemy rather than a useful ally. This time Moseley couldn’t have done it without their dual registered starlets. Roberts showed more poise than his infinitely more experienced opposite number Alberto Di Bernardo.

The youngster missed his first goal attempt, a rather optimistic pot-shot from inside his own territory, but was faultless with the four that followed.

The Argentine meanwhile missed twice, the second an inconceivable slice that would have put Leeds within a score with 13 minutes to go.

But while Carnegie’s two second half tries came through brute force, Moseley’s first half strikes were the products of inspiration.

With the scores tied at three and a quarter of an hour on the clock, Adams forced Leigh Hinton to fumble, Norton latched on and hacked the ball to the sticks.

The pacy wing beat Jon Goodridge to the ball and strode over as it sat up kindly.

After half an hour Adams broke through once more. Binns trundled up in support and had enough in his old legs to make the line. Roberts’ conversion made it 17-6 at the break.

No one knew it at the time but it would be enough to take the cup to the Common – this time for 12 whole months.

LEEDS: Hinton; Blackett, Vickerman (Hepworth, 56), Barrow (H Paul, 61), Goodridge; Di Bernardo, Bedford (Mathie, 56); MacDonlad (Palo’amo, 37), Rawlinson (Ma’asi, 49), Gomez (MacDonald, 58), Lund, Pendlebury, Clark, Fourie (Myall, 49), Oakley (D Paul, 61).
MOSELEY: Binns (Thomas, 59); Trinder, Adams, Reay, Norton; Roberts, Taylor (Pasqualin 57); Williams N, Caves, Sigley, Muldowney, Stott (D Williams, 57), Mason (Arnold, 68), Bignell, Rodwell. Replacements: Davis, Oselton, Bressington
Referee: Llyr Apgeraint Roberts (RFU).