Diss 3s 19 : 12 Dereham 2s - 16th January 2016

Diss continued their fine form in 2016 with another victory although hard fought and in the balance right up until the final whistle went. Dereham travelled with a strong side containing a few first team players and a few good second teamers mixed in with some Figians. Changes to the Diss side included a first game of the season for Andrew Horne, David Rackham had a well-earned rest for Mark Dungar at prop and Andy Macallister returned to the back row with Jack Owen being rested for crucial games coming up in February. Ever present second row Gareth Watts and Nick Yager continued their second row dominance for several consecutive games and are turning out to be irreplaceable. Diss got into the game early doors and after pressure from Dereham backs managed to get the ball out wide to the find of the season Fred Precious who scored for the third game on the trot out wide. Dereham had now got themselves together and had several attacks of their own but great tackling kept them at bay especially by Toby Boom at fly half and Jay Kindlysides. Diss continued to attack and went close several times, Will Appleton was held up and Charlie Oakes also went close. The half-finished with Dereham attacking Diss but the defence held out. Changes of personnel were made to ensure everyone got plenty of rugby and the crucial change was Joe Kindlysides and Andrew Horne coming onto the field. Dereham spent several periods of play in the Diss half and didn’t manage to score at the crucial times. Diss scored the next try after the backs spun the ball out wide and managed to get Joe Kindlysides in space to score under the posts. Dereham scored next after a deserved try after much pressure from out wide to five the game an edge for the last twenty minutes. Again Diss managed to pull away with another try from Joe Kindlysides who broke through many tackles to again score under the posts. What followed was the tackle of the game when Naz Gurgin at full back stopped one of the Figian players running in for an almost certain try. This was important as Dereham managed to score again with two minutes left to leave it 19-12 but as Diss took the ball into the opposition half the referee blew for full time.