The 1st XV will open 2024 with a trip to the West Midlands on Saturday to take on Birmingham Moseley.
The 1st XV are back in action for the first time since the derby loss to Richmond nearly a month ago and will be chomping at the bit to get back out onto the pitch. As things stand, the 1st XV currently sit in 5th place on 41 points, just three behind 4th placed Sedgley Park and level on points with this week’s opposition, Birmingham Moseley.
Moseley will come into the match off the back of a big win after they kicked off 2024 last weekend with a 31-29 victory over Richmond in a rescheduled fixture from early December.
Last Saturday not only saw Moseley leapfrog Richmond in the standings, but also ended a three-game losing streak after a red-hot two months in which they rattled off five wins on the bounce. Last weekend’s result may just have steadied the ship for Moseley after three frustrating one-score losses so Park will have to be on top form to ensure the Midlands outfit are unable to ride the momentum of that victory into Saturday and beyond.
This will be far from simple, however, as an away trip to Birmingham this season has proven to be a daunting prospect for any Nat One side. The West Midlands outfit have won their last five matches at home with their only home loss this season coming all the way back in Round Two against Sedgley Park.
Just one week after that opening home loss, in week three, Moseley were tasked with coming to The Rock in search of a result. That match saw tries from Tom Wilstead, Craig Stevenson & Conrad Cade earn Park a 19-17 lead with 75 minutes gone, but a late try from Aquile Smith with just four minutes remaining stole a win for the visitors and handed the 1st XV their first loss of the season, Park will be fired up and aiming for a different result on Saturday to kick 2024 off with a win.
For Park fans travelling to support the squad, match tickets can be purchased via the Birmingham Moseley website here.