Diss 7 : 33 Maidstone - 15th February 2015

Diss 7 Maidstone 33

As expected Diss found Maidstone very difficult to handle in the semi Final of the RFU Intermediate Cup . Maidstone are undefeated so far this season and very quickly indicated their intention of attacking Diss at pace through their three quarters. Diss held the upper hand all afternoon in the scrummage and driving maul and certainly gave the Kent side as stern a test as they have had so far this season. Maidstone opened the scoring through Lenny Vandevelde on twenty minutes following sustained and intense pressure from forwards and backs alike. Jonno Skelton stepped up to convert and Maidstone were now very much on the front foot. Diss responded positively but a lack of precision and poor handling allowed Maidstone a second try scoring opportunity that was clinically taken by Alex Eastwood and yet again converted by Skelton. The Diss pack now decided to take things into their own hands and were extremely unlucky not to be awarded a penalty try following total control close to the Maidstone five metre line. Following this pressure Maidstone attacked yet again and off -loaded the ball beautifully to set up a further try for Eddie Cranston, that secured a half time lead of 21 points to nil.

The majority of the second half was played in the Maidstone half ,with Diss attacking at every opportunity through a dominant pack of forwards and a back division that had weathered the initial Maidstone storm and was now growing in confidence and attacking prowess. Sustained pressure at the scrum eventually led to a yellow card for a Maidstone player and from the resulting driving scrummage John Laurie scored. Jack Peacock stepped up to convert and for a brief moment Diss were back in the encounter. A number of the more experienced Diss players now stepped up to the mark and strove manfully to pull the game round. Fraser Hall, Giles West ,Tim Groom and Warren Wilby drove the game forward but unfortunately Maidstone showed real bite in defence and following a loss of possession on half way the Maidstone number eight Ban Brill , who was outstanding all afternoon scored a solo try to increase the lead to 28-7 with ten minutes remaining. Diss continued to persevere but due to a very high tackle count throughout the afternoon succumbed to a final unconverted Maidstone try with only a few minutes remaining. A very brave effort from the Norfolk side and one that Paul Hathaway the Maidstone coach commented on as being the toughest game they had faced so far this season.

Report from Paul Cochrane