Saracens
Matches
Sat 09 Dec 2017  ·  Eastern Counties Greene King Division One North
Diss Rugby Club
Saracens
24
22
Norwich Union
Diss Saracens 24 v 22 Norwich Union

Diss Saracens 24 v 22 Norwich Union

Alan Gittins14 Dec 2017 - 20:25
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As a team we defended well against a well organised Norwich Union side. Defence in my book wins games. In this case it certainly did

Match report- Diss Saracens (2nds) v Norwich Union (1st) Saturday 9th December 2017

Diss Saracens (2nd team) entertained Norwich Union (1st team) on a cold and icy afternoon. Diss were keen to reverse the away lose from our previous encounter and know the forward orientated style that they would be up against. Defence close to the ruck would be key in this game and as it proved, its defence that wins games. Both teams struggled in the first 10 minutes to retain the ball and a number of scrums ensued with Norwich Union get the better of the contest. Diss without a hooker had to resort to using Nick Garnham who did a stealing job without even hooking the ball. Once Diss got out of their own half a series of attacks opened up the Norwich Defence and Jo Kindleside at flanker, followed up well and scored to the side of the posts. The conversion was completed by Matt Trede. Diss 7 Norwich union 0.

The Norwich Union team from the kick off stormed forward and again forced mistakes in the Diss back line. The resultant scrum was controlled by Union and with there no 8 picking up set up a series of pick and drive and side to side close contact forward play in what we have come to expect from the Norwich Union side. Eventually Union scored out wide from close in. The conversion was missed. Diss 7, Norwich Union 5.

From the kick off Diss set up a number of attacks using the pace of the backs to get wide, where Shaun Blyth was effective. The Norwich union defence was good, but then Matt Trede broke the line and went over under the posts. Then converted his own try. Diss 14, Norwich Union 5.

Diss then went through a poor spell and constantly gave away penalties for offside and coming in from the side at rucks or other ruck offences. This kept Norwich in possession of the ball and they drove constantly with their big forwards close to the rucks. However the defence as always in the Saracens was high quality with Garnham, Hemmitt, Yager, Hudson, Deacon, Bray and Rackham all tackling with enthusiasm and vigour. However the penalties kept mounting and after a number of drives Norwich Union score out wide again. The conversion was missed and the half came to an end. Diss 14, Norwich Union 10.

The Second half started with the Diss players ears ringing after head coach Stu Hudson politely reminded them of the need to reduce the penalty count, and to try and use the pace of our backs, which had not really been used to any effect often enough. The first play saw the backs come into action, but a promising backs moved was knocked on and from the resulting scrum Norwich union broke into the Diss 22 and it was only a mistake in handling that stopped Norwich Union scoring. From the scrum fly half Will Edwards hit a long kick down field hoping for touch. It did not find it, the ball bounced in true rugby style and evaded the covering Norwich Union players. The Diss winger following up, picked up the ball and ran forward. Then with a clever grubber kick chased the ball and beat all to the touch down. The conversion was missed Diss 19, Norwich Union 10.

From the kick off the ball was set up by Diss and after a number of phases got a penalty in midfield for offside. The kick went into the corner and from the Diss lineout which had been a key process for Diss, in winning the ball; a number of drives were made at the Norwich line. After about nine phases and some great defence from the Norwich union team the try was scored by Will Hudson, who crashed over the try line, in his first game after injury for 8 weeks; from at least ‘2 inchs’, much to his delight. The conversion was missed. Diss 24, Norwich Union 10.

They state that rugby is funny game and so this proved to be with the Diss team. It seemed as if the Diss team completely relaxed, and a Norwich Union side that could sense this, were then all over Diss and used their big charges close to the rucks again and again, making slow but sure progress into the Diss 22. Again penalties began to creep in and Diss were really on the back foot. The defence that had been so sure, was now looking a bit slow, but the tackles were still going in, but not as effective as before. The line out which had been so good for Diss was still working, but Norwich Union identified that they could disrupt and put scrum half Will Hemmitt under pressure. The good decisions that had been a hallmark of the Diss side in the first 60 minutes seemed to decrease in line with the temperature dropping. The defence of Will Edwards, Tom Miller and Jordon Dunning and Ben Walker now came to the forefront as Norwich Union constantly used the short ball back inside for their big centres to try and smash through, but from a short penalty Norwich Union scored and converted. Diss 24, Norwich Union 17.

With less than 10 minutes left Norwich union again crashed forward and the Diss team was rocking again in their own 22. Penalties were mounting, and from one of them, Jordon Dunning was Yellow carded for offside. Norwich Union then scored when the Union scrum half, skipped round the blind side to score, with not a Diss defender in sight. The conversion was missed. Diss 24, Norwich Union 22.

The final minutes again had Diss under the cosh and a Norwich Union team could sense the victory was coming. However the defining moment came when a Norwich Union player got isolated and Jo Kindleside pulled off a great turnover, which resulted in a penalty. Diss were able to kick for touch and the game stayed in the mid field for the last few minutes. Diss won the game just, but a great come back by Norwich Union.

2nd team Head Coach Stu Hudson stated,” It was a great physical contest and I am sure that Norwich Union will think that they could, and should have won the game. Diss held on by the skin of our teeth, but as a team we will learn from this. It’s an 80 minute game and we nearly lost it in the last 20 mins. We had done the hard work and were 14 points up and that is the time you need the senior players to keep the ball and just play in the oppositions half. Full marks to Norwich Union they never gave up, but what saved Diss was the great defence, lead by Nick Garnham, Jo kindleside, Will Hemmitt, Will Hudson and Tom Miller. As a team we defended well against a well organised Norwich Union side. Defence in my book wins games. In this case it certainly did.”

Stu Hudson

Match details

Match date

Sat 09 Dec 2017

Kickoff

14:00

Competition

Eastern Counties Greene King Division One North

League position

2
Diss II (Saracens)
4
Norwich Union
Team overview
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