Moseley 16 - 13 Gala: Tears not cheers for Gala after last-minute loss

By BRIAN DICK
Published on 17/12/2012 00:00

IF the pain etched into George Graham’s face and the anguish in his voice weren’t enough then the coach’s revelation of dressing-room devastation told the whole story.

Scorers: Moseley: Tries: Robinson B, Herriott. Pen: Hughes. DG: Hughes. Gala: Try: Young. Con: Millar. Pens: Millar 2

“The boys are absolutely gutted,” Graham admitted. “I don’t mind telling you there have been a few tears that we have come up short.”

Gala built a 13-0 lead and spent the second half putting their bodies on the line in dire conditions.

But, with the scores tied in the final minute, the Englishmen launched one last attack from which Glyn Hughes chipped the drop goal that could send his team into the quarter finals of the British & Irish Cup.

Graham added: “For a team that is semi-professional to play guys that are purely amateur and be jumping around at the end like that shows how much they respect us.”

The visitors withstood first-half pressure to produce two Lee Millar penalties and a converted, breakaway try for Gavin Young. But, with the wind and the slope against them, Billy Robinson, Danny Herriott and six points from Hughes robbed Gala.

Moseley: Robinson W; Hunt, Hayter, Carter, Mogensen; Davies, Brown; Woodfield, Wilkes, Thorp, Lockley, Lawrence, Burrows, Pons, Pienaar. Replacements: Herriott, Caves, Mason, Hicks, Robinson O, Thomas, Hughes

Gala: Turner; Young, Auld, Emond, Robinson C; Millar, George Graham; Christie, Mackintosh, McQuillim, Weir, Gary Graham, Keddie, Cairns, Dods. Replacements: Hogg, Marshall, Anderson, McLean, Owenson, Borthwick, Somerville

Referee: S Harding (RFU).