Diss 15 : 17 Fullerians RFC - 27th February 2016

An impressive opening salvo to this Intermediate Cup quarter final should have given Diss the opportunity of dominating and dictating affairs for the remainder of the game. Following recent defeats and a series of injuries, Diss are playing with a lack of confidence at the moment, coupled with inability of staying within the Laws of the game.

Diss secured possession from the kick off, immediately attacking in the Fullerians half. On 4 minutes, a Fullerians player entered a ruck from the side, allowing Sean McClure the opportunity to slot the penalty. On 6 minutes, Jon Trede retrieved a Fullerians kick to release, debutant Ollie Darwell-Taylor down the right wing. Darwell –Taylor’s through kick was seized upon by Jo Brock following a Fullerians fumble close to the line. Brock crossed the line to give Diss a sizable early advantage. Sean McClure’s conversion struck the upright, thus ending a passage of dominance from the home side.

Fullerians now stepped up a gear and on 8 minutes, following weak tackling in the Diss midfield replied with a converted try of their own. Diss struggled to break the cohesive patterns being woven by the Hertfordshire side and on 14 minutes infringed at a ruck, allowing the visitors to take an 8-10 lead at the end of the first quarter. Fullerians now dominated possession for the remainder of the half, creating pressure close to the Diss try line. During this period Matt Richards was sent to the Sin Bin with Diss having to scramble their defence from all quarters to stay in the game. A break from Phil LeLievre relieved the pressure and should have resulted in a Diss score close to the half time break.

Diss had weathered the storm but yet again at the beginning of the second half found gaining possession very difficult. Fullerians are a very well drilled side and consistently blunted any Diss threat whilst creating opportunities of their own. On 47 minutes, well- crafted ball from an attacking ruck in the Diss twenty two, saw the Fullerians three -quarters execute a simple miss move to extend their lead with yet another converted try. With the score now registering 8-17 to the visitors, Diss needed an immediate response. Josh Ludkin drove through the heart of the Fullerians midfield setting up the ever present Jon Trede, to score another converted try to set up a Grandstand finish. Fullerians now benefited from their ability to play smart rugby. Dominating possession and pressurising the Diss line, whilst exhibiting an excellent exit strategy, allowed them to play out the game to a positive conclusion. Diss yet again failed to lift the tempo in the final quarter and struggled to keep their discipline at crucial stages of the game and in key areas of the field. On a positive note, Second Row Jo Brock was the Diss, ‘Man of the Match’, leading the forward effort with a growing maturity and presence.