Beccles 2nd XV 14 : 6 Diss 2nd/3rd XV

With a mix of players a lack of familiarity was always going to be a problem although the presence of brothers Sebastian and Timothy Goodge and father and son duo Ken and Jed Oakshot helped lessen the problem.

Another difficulty facing the Diss side was the muddy conditions and wet ball. Beccles pitch, situated in a meander of the river Waveney, was even stickier than normal with rain falling before and throughout the game. These conditions hindered the pace and threat of Lembit Coombs and Chev Trede who have been proven match winners through the season. The more tractor like Chris Beaid did make some good yards when returning the ball from full back but ultimately the conditions favoured Beccles who had some hulking great forwards and played route one rugby.

The Beccles pack also used their weight advantage well in the scrum, Beccles scored the only try of the game from a pushover try. The Diss pack tried to create a platform so as to provide quality possesion for their dangerous backs. They gained parity in the lineouts where Matt Cannon won much of his own ball while disrupting some of Beccles'. However Diss were often edging back in the scrum despite the deeds of youngsters Andrew Gandi and Dennis Rackham and of old heads Basil Teare and Sooty Smith.

Beccles were the first to score and converted two penalties inside the first quarter, too often Diss fell foul of the referee's whistle. Beccles then got their pushover try before Diss' Beaird converted a penalty to make the half time score 11-3 to Beccles. Beaird converted another penalty mid way through the second half and at 11-6 it was game on but Diss couldn't quite get the momentum or the accuracy to get the needed try. Eros Potter went close for Diss but Beccles had the last word converting a penalty five minutes from the end.

Report by Will Foote