Moseley’s comprehensive victory over Esher last weekend was important in many ways, not least because it was their first success away in the league this season but it was also the first time they have put together back-to-back wins.

And it was also of symbolic significance - a sign that after beating Bristol and Doncaster they do not yet belong in the pigeon hole marked ‘Relegation Candidates’.

They might find themselves there in a few months time but for now there is hope that they can join the middle-ranking clubs like Donny and Leeds.

Indeed we might not yet be able to call them consistent but they have shown they could become so, providing the problem that undermined them at the start of the campaign - wild fluctuations in intensity - does not return.

But for now at least they have a happy balance between forwards and backs, between attack and defence and between fire in their bellies and ice in their veins. Andy Reay’s late winner against the Knights proved all of that.

And so, they returned from Molesey Road with a fourth win under the belts and having leapt two places up the table to ninth which now makes them the best placed team to take pot-shots at those above and maybe even drag one of the mid-table teams back into the scrap.

But can they escape the dreaded relegation pool? Rugby Correspondent Brian Dick examines the situation.

THE SCENARIO
Broadly speaking Moseley’s season has split into three parts. The first characterised by selectoral tinkering and vastly different performance levels, even within the same game.

The second saw Kevin Maggs settle on his front row, half back and centre combinations which resulted in a first victory and several narrow defeats.

And the current phase has seen basically the same team play most league matches with performances of a similar quality underpinned by growing cohesion and confidence. As a result Mose have won three of their last five league matches after a slow start.

With just eight Championship fixtures remaining Moseley are 14 points adrift from the top eight and having to make up a three win deficit and perform better in the remainder than Doncaster or Leeds.

THE FIXTURES
Moseley have four fixtures left at Billesley Common, where they have beaten Esher, Doncaster and Bristol and have begun to demonstrate a bit of form. It goes without saying that this represents their best hope.

With London Scottish, Leeds and Plymouth to come to Birmingham in the next few weeks the opportunity is there. Bedford arrive on the penultimate weekend.

The away matches against London Welsh, Bristol, Rotherham and Cornish Pirates, four of the top six, look pretty imposing and even if they can win their next three home games they are reliant on results elsewhere.

Doncaster play Leeds, Bedford, Esher and Rotherham at Castle Park and it is not difficult to see them winning at least twice. Away from home they have four testing prospects at Plymouth, Nottingham, London Welsh and Bristol.

Leeds have only three home games left, two of which they will expect to win against London Scottish and Esher. They will also be hopeful of picking up something on the road at Doncaster, Moseley and Plymouth.

The situation is less relevant below but Plymouth play London Scottish, Moseley and Esher all away from home.

If Mose fail to make the top eight their concern then switches to how many points they start the relegation pool ahead of Esher.

Mike Schmid’s men will expect to break their duck even before they take on Plymouth and London Scottish at home in the last month.

LUCKY WITH INJURIES
The squad is, as the waiter serving Monty Python’s Mr Creosote put it ‘Waffer theen’. There is a modicum of depth in the second row, back row and at scrum half but there are nothing more than ‘options’ throughout the rest of the side.

There are certain players Moseley cannot afford to be without - not least hooker Adam Caves who is emerging from the ranks as a leader, highly effective in his own role and increasingly influential across the whole side.

Andy Reay has also shown that his excellent end to last season was no flash in the pan. The captain is the club’s leading try scorer and main line-breaker and everyone at Billesley Common will hope his rib injury is not too serious.

And the value of his midfield partner Greg King was never more apparent than when he wasn’t there for the 60-plus point defeat at Nottingham. Moseley are a different prospect defensively when the former Worcester man plays.