Colchester A 34 - 5 Diss

Diss U14s travelled to Colchester on a bright and very breezy Sunday morning, to play a strong 'A' team who were looking to avenge a defeat in the corresponding fixture from last season. It was the home team who were quickest out of the blocks and punching holes in the Diss defensive line with some incisive and pacey running; and it wasn't long before they had created some space for their right winger to cross for the first try.

Although Diss had the upper hand in many of the rucks and scrummages, the free-flowing Colchester back line were always a threat, with their fly-half in particular breaking the gain line or creating space for the runners outside him. And although the Diss players enjoyed a lot of possession and were always looking to move the ball through their hands, too many of their receivers were static when they got the ball so that the impetus for attacking was often lost. Captain Dom Bell-Tye made a number of promising runs, but the Colchester defence always seemed to have an extra player to thwart potential scoring opportunities.

The hosts scored 2 further tries in the first half including a simple walk-in for their left winger after most of the Diss defence had been sucked into a series of rucks.

The second half started in the worst possible way for the Diss side when an unforced error gave the home team an easy run to the line.
On a positive note, that only further galvanised the team in blue who determined to show that they could do better... and do better they did.

Tackling became more effective and their running with the ball more direct, with quick distribution from the half-backs Leo Sargent and Aaron Frith often the catalyst. Diss started to pose more of a threat and with Jack Elliot dominant in the rucks they enjoyed both territory and possession. Unfortunately, the rub of the green was with Colchester yet again and an unfortunate bounce wrong-footed the Diss team deep in their oppo's 22 leading to a breakaway try nearly the full length of the pitch. Typical of the fantastic Diss effort, No.8 Ollie Stimson chased the flying back all the way to the try line, just in case.

But Diss were not to be denied a score and with Harvey Newton and Tyler Pursehouse putting in typically strong performances, both with and without the ball, it was the latter who crossed the Colchester line for a well deserved try. As the clock ticked down towards the final whistle, Diss continued to press and were only denied by some desperate but effective defending.

The scoreline finished Colchester 34 - 5 Diss; and although the Diss players were disappointed by the result, their coaching team was delighted with the effort and attitude that had displayed. There were several contenders for the Diss Player of the Day, but none deserved it more than Sam Geard who kept going from the first whistle to the last and constantly caused Colchester problems with his strong running and all-round forward play.