South Woodham Ferrers 15 : 29 Diss - 10th October 2015

Diss completed the first phase of the League season with yet another emphatic performance away from home. On paper the early season fixtures looked daunting due to the fact that Diss have had to travel away from home on three occasions. The growing confidence of Roger Coombs and David Smith’s squad highlights the style of rugby being played and the positive statement being laid down to the rest of the League.

South Woodham Ferrers proved a hard nut to crack, taking an early three point lead following an off-side infringement at a ruck. After 5 minutes, Diss immediately responded producing a series of attacks that led to Sean McClure stepping beautifully inside his opposite number to score under the posts. Philip LeLeivre converted to give Diss a deserved advantage.

South Woodham replied immediately with a well worked try of their own following close inter play between their back row. Diss dropped off a number of crucial tackles at this point and were for some strange reason put under intense pressure at the scrummage. Ryan Shannon was then able to disrupt a South Woodham attack and Giles West pounced on the loose ball to score under the posts. LeLievre converted to give Diss the lead at 14-10. Following a South Woodham infringement at a ruck, LeLievre was able to secure a further three points to increase the Norfolk sides lead to 17-10. The game fluctuated from end to end with South Woodham now driving deep into the Diss twenty two. A well worked driving maul brought the home team back into the game with an unconverted try.

Diss then attacked deep into the South Woodham half and following a well –controlled wheel at the ensuing scrummage , Jamie Burroughs exploited the chasm that opened and crashed over for yet another converted Diss try. The half ended with South Woodham on the attack but the Diss Defensive structures were now functioning very well and Diss led 24-15 at Half time.

The second half proved a much more turgid affair with both sides giving little away. The Diss defensive effort was certainly now beginning to be a decisive element to the game. After Diss pressure close to the South Woodham line, Michael Fuller forced his way over and scored the bonus point try that secured victory for the Norfolk side. Diss should have secured more points but a number of forwards developed white line fever and chances were lost. Following the introduction of Timothy Groom, the Diss scrummage was now rock solid and the game was now being totally dictated by the Diss forwards, with half backs Jamie Burroughs and Jack Peacock forcing South Woodham onto the back foot as the game came to its conclusion. The game management and decision making of this Diss side were yet again a crucial element to success. Without doubt, Diss left twenty points out on the field but the early season momentum had certainly been maintained.