Norfolk RFU 10's

Under the coaching leadership of Andy Jermy the U14’s have always had a policy of inclusiveness no matter what the players levels. Most of the players have been together since the under 7’s and with a few new faces, and the odd loss of a player, numbers have always hovered around 25. You can make arguments for and against not putting out your strongest side but surely the proof of the pudding is always in the eating and over 8 odd years player numbers are still the strongest in Norfolk and the atmosphere is one of a band of brothers. They all play for each other, there’s no singling out if someone is not as good a player as another - just the encouragement to play and enjoy the game. And it’s a pleasure to watch from the sidelines.
The 10’s tournament at North Walsham on the best of Indian summer day's, was the start of the season for Diss U14’s and we fielded two teams of equal measure. Uncontested lineouts have been added and the 10’s tournament is presumably a way of easing players into the season before they embark on full 15-a-side rugby from next weekend.
Training has carried on right through the summer months on a Tuesday evening and the work of the coaching staff and dedication of the players turning up week in, week out was there for all to see on Sunday.
Diss 1 and Diss 2 both won their opening games against Swaffham 3-1 and Crusaders 4-1. The speed of hands and movement and winning every scrum, being first to recycle the ball, and some fine overlaps were in evidence in both games. The players were buzzing off each other and it was obvious that the summer of coaching had paid dividends in both fitness and skill.
We hadn't played Swaffham for a few years and it was good to see them back with what looked like a very promising team.
In the second round of matches, it was Holt for Diss 1’s and this has always been a match of seemingly high importance and dare I say it, ‘niggle’. In the interests of fairness, it’s worth pointing out that their selection policy has always been based on paying their strongest side throughout the years and it’s telling in the actual numbers of players. It’s also fair to say that they have beaten us more times than us beating them, but this game was a different story. Diss won 5 try’s to 2.
Diss 2’s played West Norfolk, another team which has always won more than their fair share of games against us. They are a well-coached side that plays around the field with dynamic movement and strong backs. In this game, it started with the curly haired marvel from West Norfolk kicking off and Joe Jermy taking the catch. A surging run and pass to new lad Lucas Ricketts who took it on powerfully and made a good pass to Will Wilcox who moved it to Harry Hitch. All fast-paced stuff and accurate passing. Harry still had a good 30 yards to the try line and a couple of West Norfolk players to deal with but he side-stepped and used his muscle to go on the outside and sprint for the line. This great try was the start of a great spectacle between two well-matched sides. West Norfolk stopped a try with a turnover on the line showing that they are no pushovers.
Diss worked hard to get a turnover of their own and a high pass from Stanley Spurdens to Dylan Smith looked like impetus would swing WN’s way but Dylan is as quick as lightning and picked up to side step and weave his way through for a try.
And so it continued for the third Try. A darting diagonal run from Freddie Potter exploited some gaps and the overlap came from the hard-working Joe who made a smart pass to Dylan and then back to Joe and then back to Dylan in a move that was a delight to watch. Dylan got his second, and Diss’s 3rd try.
The 4th Try came from a move involving Joe yet again who combined well with Miles Clark for an excellent score. Miles turned 14 the next day and it looked like he was celebrating early!
West Norfolk scored a fine try themselves but in a game of 12 minutes of length, there was no time for them to get back into it. It’s always a pleasure to play West Norfolk with a good spirit between all the lads.

The third round of games saw Diss 1 against Norwich. Norwich have a couple of exceptional players and Diss looked a little lackluster in this game but still, we competed hard. Norwich came out the eventual winners 2-4.

Next up for Diss 2’s was Wymondham. The game was slightly marred by some backchat from the Wymondham players who seemed hell-bent on questioning every decision. The ref, our own Andy no less, was as fair as ever but it’s the sort of thing we don't want to see from any of our kids. Andy promptly handed over to the Wymondham coach to referee and it was telling that not one of our boys said a word.
First blood went to Diss with a well-worked try through Miles and the pack, with Freddie diving over for the Try.
Ben Faulkner, playing at number 9 was in exceptional form making the right passes at the right time and knowing when he should burst through the gaps. On this occasion, he surged through and showed a clean pair of heels to the chasing pack to score.
Stanley and Joe combined after some more strong work by Diss’s forwards with a fast past by Stanley to Joe to score Diss’s third Try. Isaac Powell, Lucas Dade-Ricketts, Freddie Potter, Josh Hayhoe and Ben Faulkner all worked hard to set this up.
Lucas saved a Try from Wymondham after a strong run back from a kick into our own 22 and put down for a scrum. Diss’s defence was as solid as a rock. Tackle after tackle forced them back and finally, the turnover came with Freddie taking the pass from Stan who then moved it out to Harry. Fast hands again saw Joe get in on the act who ran a solid fifty yards for the Try. Diss’s 4th.
Wymondham got one back at the death to make it 4-1.

Diss 1’s were up against North Walsham and what a game this was. We’ve never beaten them and they are considered the strongest team in Norfolk, if not East Anglia. In this game, it looked like Diss were the strongest. At 2 Try’s each, new boy Tom Parks-Lewis made a run on the right side and sprinted away from two missed tackles to put down. However, the NW players appealed that it was over the dead ball line and from where I was standing it was difficult to see. But it felt dismally disappointing that the referee finally agreed and didn't award the try. So the game ended up a draw and victory was snatched away from the boy’s. But I'd view it as being a marker in the ground. To go toe to toe with a team that has always been so strong shows how far Diss have come. A remarkable game in which all the boys can be justly proud.

Diss 2 were up against Lowestoft and Yarmouth and this one was a bit of Try fest ending up 7 Try’s to 0.
Diss 1 played them next and that ended up at 9 Try’s to 0. What was good to see though was that L&Y didn't drop heads and continued to use their forwards well in attack.

In Diss’ 2’s final game it was North Walsham. North Walsham has a fine number 10 and he played with skill and speed. Much of their good work came through him and Diss didn't find a way to stop him, unlike Diss’ 1’s who tackled him hard early on and subdued him. Diss looked tired with too few putting in the work rate of previous games but still, they didn't look out of place and despite going down to 3 early Try’s they managed to pull two back from amazing runs by Josh, offloading to Joe to score and the second via Josh again with the ball moving left to right, with almost every player involved. Ben was the man on the end to score one of Diss’s finest Try’s all day.
NW scored two late Try’s and the score ended 2-5.

It was a remarkable day with parents clapping all the players loudly and shaking hands with the coaches. It just shows that there’s more than one way of skinning a cat.

(Apologies to Diss 1 for not reporting on their games fully but it was impossible to be in two places at once!)

Sam Spurdens