Woodford 11 : 12 Diss - 6th February 2016

Diss moved into the regional semi- finals of the RFU Intermediate Cup competition with a narrow and hard earned victory against Essex side Woodford. With the elements in their favour Woodford immediately put the visitors under pressure. To compound events again this week, poorly directed clearances in defence allowed Woodford the opportunity to attack through their full back, who cleverly placed his kick through the Diss defence to set up attacking positions within the Diss twenty two. Diss’s inability to relieve the pressure from their own half allowed Woodford the opportunity to open their account with a well taken penalty on eight minutes. At this stage of the game Woodford were showing a more cohesive element and on eleven minutes increased their lead to 8-0 following a clean break through the Diss midfield.

The game now drifted into a period of malaise, with neither side able to gain control or authority. Diss errors were however being punished by Woodford’s sensible use of the prevailing wind. Two missed penalties from the home side were ultimately to prove vital, although with two yellow cards awarded to three -quarters Will Scott and Sean McClure before half time and a further successful penalty the home side entered half time eleven nil to the good with Diss placed on the back foot.

Diss responded in positive fashion at the beginning of the second half. Momentum and confidence now inspired the Diss side and following renewed accuracy when in possession, Hooker, Chris Craven broke through the midfield to sprint twenty two metres to score the Norfolk sides opening try. On Fifty eight minutes a superbly executed driving maul produced attacking ball on the front foot for Giles West to score a second try, converted by Sean McClure. Diss now led 12-11 with the final quarter remaining. Fresh legs were introduced with Patrick Lawton making his debut in the centre. A resurgent Henry Passmore was unlucky not to be awarded a third Diss try following a sprint along the touch line. Diss now pressed to close the game out, unfortunately succumbing to a Woodford interception that for all intense and purposes looked like the winning score for the home side, however, a superb covering tackle from full back Sean McClure saved the day. A final Woodford thrust was eventually repelled, allowing Diss to move into the next round of the Competition. Diss certainly had the better of the second half with Kimi Latu running hard all afternoon and Jon Trede working tirelessly at the breakdown. The Diss scrummage was totally dominant, whilst the ever reliable Will Hemmant at Scrum half provided an efficient service to his three quarters.