Moseley second row Muldowney fears

ALLY Muldowney will discover whether his worst fears are realised this weekend when Moseley take on Doncaster at Billesley Common. The in-form second row, who is just six starts into his Moseley career following a summer move from Stourbridge, barged his way to his first ever hat-trick in senior rugby in last weekend’s 44-17 thrashing of Sedgley Tigers. But if there is a drawback in

scoring three tries in the same game Muldowney is concerned he may have found it given his previous strike rate.

The 28-year-old averaged three a season in his two campaigns at Stourton Park and with that total already reached he wonders when and indeed if the next one will come.

“I got four last year and two in my first but they were always spread out. It wouldn’t surprise me if there’s no more this season,” Muldowney said.

“Overall though I am really happy with the way it is going. My conditioning is not where it should but I’m getting there. I’ve only just returned to the gym because of my back.”

Muldowney’s inclusion in the team after a month out with injury has coincided with an upturn in Moseley’s performances – particularly at Sedgley where they played some of their best stuff of the season.

“The first 20 minutes was outstanding, it was like a team run through – everything we tried came off.” Muldowney said. “Then we made a few mistakes. Scoring 22 points so easily meant we lost focus and let them back into the game.

“The second half was good. We tightened up a lot and were more patient.”

They will have to be that again on Saturday as the sixth-placed Knights come to the Midlands. Lynn Howells’ men won by 38 points when they went to Park Lane and were only narrowly beaten at Plymouth last time out.

“Points won’t come as easy and we can’t afford to make any mistakes,” Muldowney said. “We made a few and Sedgley Park scored from them but they also missed out on a few as well. That’s less likely to happen against Doncaster.

“We will have to work off the ball. We’ll have to get back into our defensive line as quickly as possible. We are definitely in the right sort of form.

“The way we played for 60 minutes last Saturday was really good and if we can put right the other 20 there’s no reason why we can’t give these full-time sides a game.”