Match Report

Southwold RFC 37 - 21 Diss Saracens

The windy conditions were always going to prove a deciding factor in this local derby between two sides placed in the middle of the League table. Diss had use of the wind in the first half and profited almost immediately. An Aaron Frith penalty gave the visitors an early advantage. Playing with a surplus of possession allowed the Diss eight to extract maximum use of the conditions, setting Nick Garnham on his way to score close to the posts thus giving Aaron Frith an easy conversion to establish a ten point lead.

A worrying trend then developed within the Diss cohort with Southwold able to break through a rather weak Diss defence. A feature that was to prove costly later in the game. Southwold were unable to capitalise missing their own penalty to then see Aaron Frith convert a further Diss penalty giving the visitors an even greater advantage.
Southwold eventually secured their first points with a well struck kick of their own. Diss and Frith stepped up to convert a further penalty before Southwold reduced the deficit to ten points following a Diss forward not rolling away at a defensive ruck. The key question posed at half time was whether this was enough to hold back the expected Southwold onslaught in the second half.

The Diss game plan and ability to exit defensive situations was soon exposed by Southwold, their midfield now began to enjoy front foot ball and exposed a weak under belly within the Diss tackling. Two Southwold tries were scored through the midfield and by moving the ball out wide accurately. What had been a workmanlike lead had now been very quickly extinguished.

Diss responded with a Hugo Barrett try of their own to restore a one point lead as the game moved into the final quarter. Unfortunately, at this point the Diss game plan completely disappeared. A lack of cohesion, tactical appreciation of the windy conditions and creativity allowed Southwold to dominate possession, scoring a well-structured try after a dominance of phased possession. The Diss line out structure completely fell apart allowing the home side to profit and thus send their more
powerful midfield through a faltering Diss defence. That said, the defensive effort of Giles West at full back was sensational. Overall, a disjointed and naive performance after an encouraging first half.