Diss 19 : 25 Bracknell

At this level of rugby there is a fine line between winning and loosing, with a decision or a knock-on changing the outcome of the game, and so it proved again on Saturday at Mackenders.
Bracknell came to Diss full of confidence after beating us well at home and with them flying high in the league. With their powerful scrum and fast back line, it looked like Diss were in for along afternoon and a similar result. But yet again the rugby gods seemed to have deserted Diss, having appeared briefly at Hertford last week.

Coach Gavin Brock had to make last minute changes with Aaron Bliss taking the place of Alex Kelsall, and Rhuan Jones and Elliot Page filling the subs bench.

From the kick off the size and power of the Bracknell pack much in evidence both in the set piece and running with the ball, Diss were forced into giving away a series of penalties, only one of which were converted successfully. After 15 minutes Diss started to apply some pressure of their own, with a kick over the defence, just evading the finger tips of Aaron Bliss, while Seb Goodge made a last ditch touch down behind the Diss try line with 2 Bracknell players also diving for the ball.

The power of the visitors scrum eventually told with a catch and drive from the lineout, which pushed the Diss scrum back from the 22m line, which was converted.

Diss responded with a clever long kick by Seb Goodge that rolled and rolled and the referee adjudged that the defence had just beaten Aaron Bliss for the touchdown.

Bracknell then had their No 6 yellow carded for persistently stopping the Diss maul when we were on their goal line, and with the man advantage the back line put Chris Beaird through to score under the posts, which he successfully converted. Just before the half time whistle, Chris Beaird showed his defensive strengths with a last man tackle to save a certain try after a rampaging run from the visitors No8. Half Time 7-8.

6 minutes into the 2nd half, and it was Beaird again who chased his own chip and chase to beat the fullback to the bounce to dive over in the corner. He injured himself in scoring, so missed the conversion, and was immediately substituted by Semi Roccotovitovi. Aaron Bliss then popped his shoulder and had to be replaced by Rhuan Jones.

Again Bracknell came back through the power of their forwards, to score another pushover try, with Ali Butler having to retire from the fray to be replaced by Elliot Page. The Diss defence continued to hold out, but in the 65minute the referee gave a try to the visitors in the corner, much to the surprise of most of the players and the crowd, again successfully converted.

Carl Smith then intercepted a long pass from the Bracknell fly half, and sprinted 40m to score under the posts, which Warren Wilby converted.
Diss then were under pressure from the kick-off, and after a series of penalties the referee awarded a penalty try to the visitors, but the conversion from in front of the posts was casually taken, hitting the upright, and assuring Diss of at least the bonus point.

Bracknell were clearly the more powerful side, but as in most of the matches this season, Diss were not outplayed, with those small details being the difference between winning and losing. Now everybody is hoping for the best Christmas present, a win next week at our nearest rivals North Walsham.