First win of the season for Diss

Their first away trip of the season for Diss coincided with their first ever visit to Colchester RFC, for what proved to be a very entertaining and closely contested match.

The home team started very well and were well-organised in their retention and recycling of the ball. After several such phases, their strong centre burst through some would-be tackles and ran 30 metres to the line. Colchester were very much in the ascendency and continued with similar tactics attempting to breach the Diss defensive once more. A couple of excellent tackles from Diss full back Charlie Smith prevented further addition to the scoreline and galvanised his team mates to follow suit.

From that point on, the Diss team began matching their hosts' ambitions and showed what they were capable of, with captain Dom Bell-Tye leading the way. The No.8 went on a storming run covering half the length of the pitch, evading tackles with his determination, guile and strong hand-off to score in the corner. A few minutes later he gave a repeat performance on the other side of the pitch to score in the other corner. Fly-half Aaron Frith was close with both conversion attempts but was hoping for something slightly closer to the posts.

He didn't have long to wait as Diss started to play some wonderful 15-man rugby, taking control in the rucks and passing the ball along its back line first one way and then the other until gaps opened up in the Colchester defence. One such move was finished off superbly by winger Harvey Newton, rounding both his opposite number and the full back to touch down near the uprights. A grateful Frith added the extras.

The second half continued in a to and fro manner, with both teams enjoying periods of possession and playing skilful rugby. There was little to choose between them other than the superior finishing of the Diss side who ran in a further 2 tries through 2nd row Harry Williamson and centre Nathan Brand, Frith converting one and skimming the wrong side of the post with the other.

Other Diss were comfortable winners on the scoreboard, a 5-29 victory did not reflect the closeness of the encounter and how much the players had had to work for their success. It was a great team performance and Nathan Shaw had an outstanding game at scrum-half, marshalling his forwards and setting the backs running with some lovely distribution. However, he was pipped to the man of the match award by Smith who had laid the foundation with his resolute tackling from which the victory was built.