Saracens Victorious against League leaders.

This week the Saracens travelled to Dereham to fight for the League leaders position. The Diss side were keen to repay the favour and beat Dereham on their home turf, having lost to the opposition side earlier in the season in the last play of the Game. It was evident from the kick off that the Saracens were keen to make an impression, and they chased the ball hard and following a clinical tackle by flanker Matthew Cullum one of the Dereham forwards spilled the ball forwards for the Saracens to gain possession. A series of slick moves by the backs put full-back Stefan Coombes over the line for Diss’ first try, which left Antonio Goymour the difficult task of converting – straight into the forceful wind, with no joy unfortunately. The Diss side looked to have come onto the pitch with more passion than the opposition, but this did then cost them when a player challenged the referees’ decision and was duly penalised for it. The home side made use of their weight advantage in a series of pick and goes, with one of their locks powering over the line to equalise, with the conversion also missed. A series of hotly contested rucks and mauls ensued, and the Saracens found themselves in space, and around ten minutes from the break inside centre Adam Williamson broke through the defence to dive over in the corner for the Saracens’ second score. Antonio Goymour stepped up to take the conversion, and the ball sailed between the posts, albeit swaying in the strong wind. Composure from both teams started to slip and the penalty count started to grow, and both captains were asked to calm their players down, as is always the way in a Dereham versus Diss fixture! Despite being camped in the opposition 22, the Saracens failed to capitalise on several opportunities. In the final play of the half Diss nine Dougie Moir took a penalty quickly, and put Skipper Ben Walker into space, who unfortunately failed to get a clean pass away to Antonio Goymour, and the ball bobbled forwards for the final play of the half.
Following half time Dereham came out strong, but were still no match for the powerful Diss 8, who dominated in all set piece play; with Jacob Page and Matthew Cullum stealing several balls against the head at the line-outs and front row Karlton Gray, Rich Horne and Ed Passmore demolishing the home side at the scrum. Having stolen the ball at a lineout, the Diss forwards rumbled up the field using a string of Pick and goes, which put the Saracens hooker, Richie Horne, over the line for his first try of the season. Antonio duly converted. Dereham did however, make some ground and got close to the try line, and following a series of penalties at the ruck they managed to crash over for their second try, but the missed conversion held them 9 point behind Diss. Tempers started to rise in frustration for the home side, and one of their props was sin binned for an infringement at the ruck after a series of warnings from the referee. Again the Saracens pack controlled the game, and from a catch and drive at the lineout halfway out to the 22, the Blues trundled over the line for Skipper Ben Walker’s first try for the season as well, with the conversion very narrowly missed. Unfortunately Diss prop Ed Passmore was lost to a groin injury, but luckily George Gooderham came off the bench and filled in nicely. However due to similar a similar scenario with infringements round the ruck, Diss player Stefan Coombes was also sin-binned, and Dereham made better use of their extra man than Diss had, to put themselves over out wide. Their prop-come-flyhalf duly converted this to put the home side just a converted try behind the visiting side. With around fifteen minutes to go, when Coombes had returned to the field he was trapped between a prop from each team in a ruck, and broke a rib, so super-sub Tom Miller was called upon. The home side were evidently getting agitated by this point and the penalty count started to rise again. Diss took the opportunity of one of these to extend their lead and opted to kick for goal, but Antonio Goymour’s effort slid narrowly past the post. Shortly after this the Saracens found themselves with a scrum in front of the posts, when the returning 10, Pete Chartier, dropped back into the pocket to slot a drop-goal comfortably between the posts. The boys in blue then carefully wound down the clock, to maintain their ten point lead, leaving the home side distraught at the final whistle, and the Saracens very much ecstatic.