Score doesn't depict the game

HADLEIGH 24 : 10 DISS

When Hadleigh came to Mackenders earlier in the season DISS were a different side and lost quite heavily 52:10 to a very good Hadleigh Team. This encounter was to be a totally different experience for Hadleigh and I have to give thanks to their Coach’s for the praise they gave the DISS lads after the match as Hadleigh were pushed really hard and the score, even though much less than the previous encounter, does not reflect the closeness of the game.

DISS unfortunately were missing a few players and could only field 14 players, Hadleigh kindly dropped a player to enable equal numbers to play. The sides were not only equal in numbers but also equal in the quality and ferocity of the Rugby played, particularly in the first half.

For the first quarter DISS had the run of play taking the game deep into Hadleigh’s half with some great rugby, the pick of this being DISS’s increased intensity in the loose to secure the ball from the ruck when often this is where they lose the ball, unfortunately on a cold and wet day the ball was spilled at key moments and DISS failed to turn this territory and possession into points. Hadleigh on the other hand had very little ball during this period but when they did, their nippy fly half caused DISS problems and from a run against play they scored after 20 minutes to go 5:0 up.

Having soaked up this early pressure from DISS Hadleigh had a good run of play with ten minutes of sustained pressure but, as per the first quarter but in reverse, DISS took the ball against the run of play and WITH some fantastic support play from forwards and backs alike DISS burst up the right flank with great inter passing to put Joss Griffiths in in the corner to level the scores 5:5.

From the kick off Hadleigh came back and managed to score a try and conversion just before half time to go into the second half 17:5 ahead.

With the wind now against them, and for short periods the rain also, the second half was going to be difficult for DISS to pull these points back but fight they did. The game was a little looser than the first half but, as is now becoming the norm, the standard was high and for the spectators the game was fantastic to watch, especially with two sides that were playing the game as it was designed to be, aggressive but controlled. Hadleigh extended their lead with another converted try half way through the half to go 24:5 up before DISS came back with many phases of play that resulted in Joss Griffiths getting his second of the day out wide on the right again to bring the score to 24:10. DISS maintained their pressure and when the whistle finally went the Hadleigh guys gave a great cheer for the win because they had had to work very, very hard and there was a bit of relief for them when the final whistle blew. What a great game. I don’t normally name the man of the match for DISS but Lee Bray needs a special mention this week as he played his socks off tackling with a tenacity that only Lee can when he’s on top form, well done Lee and let’s have more of it!

From a Coach’s perspective we always have something to work on so I would just like to make note for the lads this week about securing the ball going into the tackle, we spilled the ball a few times this week that could have easily have lead to tries being scored and also we need to look wide a little more, on many occasions we had an overlap that again could have resulted in further tries being scored. This game was easily winnable if we had been slightly better in these areas. I know I’m being hyper critical but the great thing now is that I can be because the base play is now of such a high quality, well done lads!!

Training Thursday as normal please. We are also scheduled to play North Walsham at home on Sunday. Please let Andy and I know by Wednesday evening please to ensure we have numbers.

Kevin Jolly
Coach