Bury St Edmunds : Diss - 5th February 2017

The U14s game between Bury St Edmunds and Diss was a hard-fought and competitive encounter with neither side asking nor giving any quarter.

Playing with the slope and breeze in their favour, BSE set off in confident manner, only to find that the Diss players were equally determined.
It made for an enthralling and entertaining spectacle for both sets of supporters as the play ebbed and flowed with strong running countered by determined defence.

Midway through the first half BSE were finally able to find some find space out wide to create an overlap and touched down in the corner for the opening score. Diss pressed hard for their own score with the new half-back pairing of Aaron Frith and Will Rapkin putting pace on the ball for centres Harvey Newton and Sam Geard to make inroads into BSE territory... but the home side held firm. With 10 minutes of injury time on the clock, BSE managed to force their way over the line for a 2nd try that brought the half to an end. 10-0 at half-time.

The 2nd half was no less physical than the first and the Diss forwards continued to make headway through several phases of play, bringing their back line into use to good effect. The pressure told and some direct running from Harry Williamson from 20 metres out saw him burst through several tackles and crash over the a well-deserved try. Frith converted.

Diss continued to press for their second score but the BSE forwards managed to win turnover ball at crucial times, both in rucks and mauls. This loss of possession was to be Diss' undoing, with a loose ball being returned 70 meters by the BSE no.12 from his own 22. Support was on hand and the ball eventually dotted down in the left-hand corner. The to and fro of the contest continued as Diss sought a reply. Toby Drake managed a couple of amazing runs, one in particular that Harry Houdini would have been proud of (had he played rugby!). Drake's cover defence was also excellent in thwarting several attacks inside the Diss 22. Dom Bell-Tye probed the BSE defensive line on several occasions, but the home team were well-drilled at defending the gain line and there was very little space for the Diss players to run into before hitting the yellow/green wall again. As the visitors continued to push, another turnover resulted in the hosts combining their forwards and back to great effect to score again, this time in the right-hand corner.

As the game entered the last 5 minutes, Diss once again enjoyed some good possession and created width of their own to put debutant Jack Clarkson in a bit of space. He used his pace to beat the first defender and was denied his first-ever try by a head-high tackle that was perhaps reckless but definitely not malicious. A penalty try was the result, with Frith drop-kicking the conversion as the clock ticked down.

There was just time for the restart and although Diss showed their attacking intent until the end, a resolute and relived BSE defence held firm and forced a ruck infringement that signalled the end of the game, the final score being 20-14.

Every aspect of the game was played with real power and passion and all the players left the pitch to a deserved ovation from both sets of supporters.

There was plenty of skill on display from both teams, with the BSE no.8 a constant threat with the ball and a disruptive influence in defence. All of the Diss players were congratulated by their coaching staff for a determined and cohesive effort that continued from the first whistle to the last. A performance of which they can all be very proud, especially Sam Geard, their Player of the Day.