Diss 43 : 14 Norwich - 10th December 2016

In deteriorating conditions Diss overcame a rugged and fully committed Norwich side who had arrived at Mackenders having found some decent form of their own over the last few weeks. Initial exchanges were evenly matched with Norwich dominating the breakdown thus producing attacking options early in the game. After exchanging penalties, Diss soon began to control affairs and threaten the visitors defensive structures. On fifteen minutes Sean McClure glided his way through a number of tackles to score under the posts. Having converted his own try, McClure then received the ball on the halfway line and immediately chipped ahead. Having retained the ball with ease he then dashed over the line to score his second converted try.

Norwich responded with aggression scoring a well worked driven lineout over the Diss line to reduce the deficit to 17-8 with half time just round the corner.

Diss now upped the game a second time and should have scored from a driving five metre scrummage. A lack of discipline at this stage was emerging and would blight the home side for the remainder of the game. A free flowing and well worked move released through the backs sent Freddie Precious over to extend the Diss lead as the half time whistle approached.

Norwich yet again responded to this reverse and pressured the Diss line. A combination of poor decision making and simple errors allowed Norwich a penalty just before the interval to keep them interested in the game.

The poor weather and failing light certainly affected proceedings, coupled with Diss’s inability to stay on the right side of the law. There are times when one has to play to the referee and not against him. Clear attacking options disappeared for both teams with the game now being played in the central half of the pitch. Diss did however produce three sublime moments of magic to seal the game and remain at the top of the table. A neat and well directed chip kick ahead was beautifully taken at full pace by John Laurie. Laurie then ran in from forty metres to score. Stephen Hipwell then came to the party scoring two individual tries. One from an attacking line out on the Norwich twenty two and another from the base of a forward moving scrummage close to the Norwich try line. McClure converted all of these tries to give the home side yet another convincing victory as we head towards the festive season. Discipline does however remain an issue and will need to be addressed when matches are tighter and more abrasive.

Report from Paul Cochrane