LEDBURY RFC came away with a well earnt losing bonus point after being narrowly beaten 5-10 against second placed Moseley Oak, but the game almost tipped the home side’s way right in the final minutes.

High-flying Moseley threatened from the outset and appeared to have scored out wide within the first few minutes only to be taken back for a scrum in the Ledbury 22.

Ledbury battled to get out of their half and managed it through clearance kicks for territory from Iolo Bubb and Jack Hughes with Ed Bennion fiercely cleaning up around the scrums and mauls.

Ledbury were giving away far too many penalties culminating in first blood to Moseley from a line out drive from five metres (0-5).

Quick to respond Ledbury found themselves deep in Moseley territory through the exploits of George Wallin and the drive of Ed Bennion and John Clark, culminating in a perfect penalty kick from Iolo Bubb into the corner.

From the lineout Ledbury simply emulated the Moseley score with Jock Welch grounding from the back of the maul to make it (5-5) after 25 minutes.

Ledbury were lucky to escape when a five-metre penalty throw for Moseley was deemed not straight and regained possession to clear.

The second half picked up at the same tempo, both sides testing each other.

Ledbury continued to infringe unnecessarily but their defence was sound under intense pressure until they were breached from another five-metre throw, sneakily delivered to the front of the line and in to score in the corner (5-10).

Ledbury were still in the contest and fresh legs gave them momentum, enabling George Wallin, Josh Bishop and Jack Hughes to probe threateningly.

Two kicks for territory were just too long and were ably dealt with by the Moseley 15 who called the marks and cleared.

Minutes from the end Ledbury had a massive chance to take the lead from a penalty throw on the Moseley five-metre. However, the visitors’ scrambled defence was sound and it was not to be as they cleared and ultimately, with the clock in red, they put the ball out.

Fans applauded probably the most cohesive and impressive Ledbury performance this season in difficult conditions.

It resoundingly put to rights the 117-0 drubbing of the cup game back in 2009, in fact Jack Richards of the Moseley management team, who actually played in that game, confessed that they were convinced that Ledbury were going to score in the final minutes and take the spoils.

Ledbury are on the road in their next match against top of the league Newent on March 1.