Norwich Medics 14 : 17 Diss Saracens - 11th February 2017

Diss Saracens currently in 2nd place in their league visited Lakenham Hewitt to play against 3rd place Norwich Medics, who had prior to this match scored the most amount of points by any team in the league this season. Despite Diss beating Norwich Medics at home earlier in the season by 50-11, this game wasn't going to be a simple repeat.

Diss came to this game fielding a much younger side compared to the last time these two sides met with many changes including 2 first team players coming down to the 2's and the appearance of Morris Cullum for the first time this season. Diss started the game with the wind and sloping pitch against them. Diss led the scoring in the first 10 minutes by a dominant first few exchanges, with Ed Colborn standing in at fly half scoring in front of the posts getting past 4 players to touch down with Adam Goymour converting. With a lot of physicality, it set out to be a highly competitive game of rugby as Medics fielded a fit side whom were relentless in their willingness to attack Diss to which they eventually scored and levelled the scores. Peter Bray the main ball runner for the Diss pack went off with a leg injury which left Diss weak in both line outs and in the scrum. That said, Diss prevailed to finish the scoring in the first half with a further try 5 mins before the break, this time from Will Scott the inside centre aka “the gap” to make it 12-7, Adam Goymour again converting. But that doesn’t go without further hrut as Diss’s no.7 Joe Kindleysides got yellow carded for a above the horizontal tackle.14-7 to Diss was to be the score, as it came to half-time.

Into the second half, it was all Medics with the possession and not long into the half one of Medics front row suffered an injury due to Diss’s tackling duo Nick Garnham and Joe Kindleysides. This unfortunately stopped play for a duration of 15 minutes and play had to resume on the pitch adjacent to it. Play continued with rugged and dogged defence from Diss and Medics attacking relentlessly but unable to get past Diss’s defence which was to be key to their win. Medics had several penalties awarded to them in this half but were unable to benefit from any opportunities other than territory until half way in with a converted try to make it 14-14. Medics had another opportunity to score and lead with a penalty kick but were unable to capitalise. Diss however through their attacking dominance towards the end were awarded a penalty, which Adam Goymour stepped up and converted which resulted in the win and last score of the game, 17-14 to Diss.

Diss now play 4th place Broadland and Gt.Yarmouth at home next week and remain in 2nd place only 5 points behind Fakenham, with just 3 league fixtures left to play.