Hertford 17 : 20 Diss

The frustrations and anger of so many close loses all came together at Hertford on Saturday, with a display of rugby that sent the visiting supporters jumping for joy, and the players celebrating wildly on the pitch at the end. Many home supporters had expected to roll us over as Hertford boasted an unbeaten 5 match winning run at home this season, but this was to change with a display that will have put many of our demons to bed.

Coach Gavin Brock was forced into last minute changes as Semi Roccotovitovi was unable to travel, so Will Hemmant was drafted in on the bench, with Andy Thorpe moving to 13, and Aaron Bliss coming into the wing.

The game was preceded by a fighting display by the U11's who beat their hosts by 15 points to 0, to set the tone for the afternoon's rugby.

The game kicked off into a flurry of penalties, with Chris Beaird just missing the first, but within 5 minutes the referee yellow carded Tim Groom for killing the ball, and Hertford were able to convert the penalty. Chris Beaird soon had a chance to make up for his earlier miss, slotting his penalty between the posts.

Both sides then started to show their attacking potential, but Alex Kelsall was stopped in full flow by a high tackle, and the Hertford wing was stopped by a last ditch tackle by Aaron Bliss. Soon after a sweeping by Alex Kelsall, Chris Beaird, Mike Fuller and Matt Richards led to another penalty given away by the home side, but Chris Beaird kick rebounded of the post and was cleared to safety.

With 30 minutes gone a high kick over the home defence was returned, with Hertford winning the game of football to score near the posts which was converted. From the kick off Hertford started another of their flowing moves through the backs, but a long pass was intercepted by Andy Thorpe who outpaced the fullback to score under the posts. Chris Beaird converted. Half time 10-10

The second half started with Hertford camped in our 22, but time and again the pack stopped their drives from the lineout, by great tackling and by forcing mistakes from the home side. Chris Howard had to be replaced by Elliot Page, and Ali Butler was yellow carded, but this did not disrupt the defence. Hertford seemed to change tactics under pressure and instead of throwing the ball wide, kept it in the forwards which played to our strengths.

Eventually though all the pressure told, with home substitute Brady scoring under the post for an easy 7 points. Diss then had a period of pressure themselves, with the pack have a series of drives near the goal line, and eventually Tim Groom drove though the heart of their pack to score, which was converted by Chris Beaird.

This set up the last 10 minutes of frantic action where Diss we on the attack. A drop goal from Seb Goodge just went past the left-hand post, but with the last play of the game Hertford were penalised for not releasing, and Chris Beaird withstood all the pressure to slot over the kick, to joy from the Diss fans, increased by the knowledge that we had overturned that last minute bogie that we have had all season.

No one player can be picked out from that performance, they all gave 110 %, with club captain Adam Williamson saying, that he had felt in training over the last weeks that the spirit was there and a big performance would come. IT DID! Congratulation from a happy band of supporters.