Dereham 29 : 31 Diss Saracens

The Saracens completed their Norfolk League campaign with a 16th win in a row, but as the score line suggest they were made to work hard for it. With many of the regular team called up to the firsts a number of third team regulars were given the chance to play and despite the lack of familiarity the Saracens were first to score. Scrum half for the day Seb Goodge’s exquisite reverse pass put the marauding Benny Goodman into space and after further pressure leading scorer Josh Monks barged over for the try with Goodge converting. The well drilled Dereham team came back with a try and a penalty to lead at half time 10-7.

With the wind behind them in the second half the Saracens were able to gain territory through the tactical kicking of Goodge and from another period of pressure Paul Cayley crashed over after great work from Vic Garnham, Junior Horne and youngster Barney Chenary. Further Diss pressure saw Goodge power through and after a trademark show and go score a try which he converted. Newcomer Barry Holdsworth, on in the second half for Tiago Miller, then scored for Diss to give them a healthy lead but Dereham scored two tries themselves to get back into the match before Monks scored his second which Goodge crucially converted for a seven point lead. In the last few minutes Dereham scored again but the conversion, that would have brought the teams level, went wide. The victory left a buoyant Saracens team, who had already secured the league title, ready for their Norfolk cup final at home next week.

Report by Seb Goodge