Cantabs 25 : 25 Diss - 5th November 2016

Diss travelled to Cantabrigians at the weekend remembering they lost this fixture last season and will be disappointed not to have closed this game down and win it ,with the score board reading 13–25 at 20 minutes to go. This has become a familiar pattern to the sides games this season and one that the coaches and team will look to work on. However the final result, a draw, at 25 -25 was probably a fair result as their opposition played well and never gave up levelling the scores with seconds to go.

In a strong cold cross wind Diss started slowly for the first 15 minutes and were starved of possession and territory as the Cantabs’ mobile forwards drove and counter rucked very strongly. To add to this it became clear that the opposition wanted to feed their backs and run at every opportunity. Cantabs were first on the scoreboard with a penalty converted by their number 10 but not long after this Steve Hipwell broke from the base of a maul and, going blind, beat 2 defenders and went on to score Diss’ first try. Not converted in the strong crosswind. Shortly after Sean McClure rectified his first miss at goal and slotted a penalty from the Cantabs’ 22 metre.

After the restart and from a period of broken play Cantabs were awarded a penalty on the Diss 22 for a Diss player entering a ruck from the side, this was converted by their number 10. Shortly after this Phil LeLevrie immediately got into the action fielding a loose mid field kick and spotting a route to the line he stepped his way through the middle of the Cantabs’ defence to score Diss’ second try of the match, converted by McClure. The score 6-14 on 30 minutes.

With the two teams now vying for territory, Diss by tactical kicking and Cantabs by running at every opportunity guided by their number 6 and number 8, a lot of yardage was gained and lost by both teams in the mid-field. The stalemate was broken by the ever alert Alex Leeder who, playing heads up rugby, saw the narrowest of gaps and took his chance from the base of a ruck to go on his own and score Diss’ third try, converted by McClure. At half time Diss had used their possession well and had shut down the Cantabs’ backs in attack. The score line stood at 6-22 at half time.

The second half saw Jacob Page who had a good game subbed, and John Laurie enter the fray. At the restart Hipwell had made 30 metres on his own only to find Cantabs stealing the ball and counter-attacking through their 6 and 8, who carried well all afternoon. Diss then lost their scrum on their 5 metre line and Cantabs went blind to score their first try, which was converted. A further penalty to Diss awarded for a high tackle on Ed Hudson, who had to go off, was converted by McClure and Ben Walker was brought on. With the score on 13-25 and 20 minutes remaining, the opposition elected to run at all opportunities. Through a series of back line attacks Cantabs found themselves on the Diss 22 metre, with a penalty awarded to them which was taken quickly and effectively as they scored their second try through several missed tackles from Diss. This was again converted.

20-25 with 10 minutes to go. Cantabs threw all they had at the Diss side. Fortune was not to favour Diss on this occasion and after a missed penalty attempt by Diss, the opposition ran the ball out of their 22 metres through their backs and forwards stretching the Diss defence left and right to eventually score in the corner, the try not converted. Final score 25-25.