The Season of Serenity that has been Moseley’s saunter to Championship safety reaches its destination this weekend as Billesley Common draws down the shutters on as relaxing a journey as anyone can remember.
The first month aside, when Moseley were mowed down by a Rotherham side that could barely believe how good it was, relegation has never been on the cards.
Instead the Red and Blacks have capitalised on sub-par campaigns from Bedford and Nottingham to clamber into mid-table.
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Saturday's 16-11 victory over Plymouth Albion on Saturday secured seventh place for Moseley, their highest finish in the pyramid for 14 years.
This has been an anxiety-free season and it must be cherished as such because there’s no guarantee when the next one will be along.
With that in mind let’s hand out a few end of year gongs. Remember it’s only for fun and if you call your vote may not count but you could still be charged!
Player of the Season
1) Matt Williams: Duh, no brainer this one. Williams arrived last summer with no doubts about his pace but question marks over his defence and positioning.
His return of 13 tries has been exceptional, particularly given the fact he barely saw the ball for two months, but not entirely unexpected.
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What has been a pleasant surprise, though, has been his back-tracking. The 25-year-old has used his pace to save as many tries as he’s scored and I can only remember one gratuitous high ball error. He’s been brilliant.
2) Greg King: The pocket rocket started the season at outside centre and did pretty well, although supporters wanted him to feed Williams more often. However, since moving to No.12 just before Christmas King has been arguably Moseley’s best player.
His low centre of gravity and hard lines make him one of the best in his position in the league and the fact he plays injured so often means he is a vital cog in the Red and Black machine. Deserves far more praise than he gets.
3) Olly Robinson: Every so often Robinson looks like the 22-year-old openside learning his trade that he is. Missed tackles and a few injudicious penalties have counted against him this term.
But most of the time Robinson is a superb over-the-ball, linking No.7 who plays well beyond his years, and his recent try-scoring run is yet another string to his already promising bow. I can’t think of a forward with hands as soft as his anywhere in the Championship. He has a fine career ahead of him.
Try of the Season
1) Matt Williams: Yes, but which one? There’s 80 metre sprints aplenty if that’s what you like.
Williams himself plumps for the touchline dance at Bedford when he fielded a clearance on his own 10m line and opted to exploit the 1cm channel down the outside. Everyone’s heart sank, it looked a terrible decision .
Don’t miss
Until he slipped around his marker, handed off another then blazed away to touch down from 60m. Breathtaking.
2) Matt Williams: Yes, but which one? There’s 80 metre sprints aplenty if that’s what you like
Look, I’ve nothing against Williams’s sideline sprints but there was something Bedford-esque about his solo effort against Bristol at Billesley.
Moseley were trailing 26-0 and nothing was on when Williams took Anthony Carter’s pass in his own half. He stepped inside one defender, seared past two, and weaved past another two to spark a mini-comeback.
3) Simon Hunt: In the season-opener against Rotherham, the winger produced a 40m charge and juddering hand-off after a neat interchange between Williams and Scott Armstrong.
Newcomer of the Season
Greg Charlton: What a discovery. With less than a week’s notice Charlton was plucked from level six and on his way to Dublin to play Leinster, after which he remained in the side until last Friday night.
The second row has shown he has to ability and attitude to flourish in the Championship. The fitness will come.
Honourable mention to Will Owen, who has stepped up pretty well too and who runs very good lines.
Scott Armstrong Award for Commitment
Scott Armstrong: A 360-mile round trip to training and a switch of positions earn the sheep-farming ex-Saint a special mention.
Disappointment of Season
Cory Hill’s departure just five games in left a sour taste – as does the reluctance of players to commit to Moseley without tarting themselves around the league first. A quick, straight answer to a contract offer is not an unreasonable expectation.
Favourite interview
Greg Charlton: a five minute, on-field life history with enough detail to write a book.