Crusaders 2s 3 : 57 Diss 3s - 24th September 2016

The first 10 minutes of play was a tussle of the forwards of both sides but eventually after pressure from the Diss pack, Diss got on the score sheet.

The Blue and Whites burst into life as a Crusaders player knocked on as a result of a painful-looking sandwich tackle by Steve Macqueen and Will Foote. The spilled ball found its way to Ethan Page, who not only burst his way out of the grasps of two would-be tacklers to score but did so in easy to do fashion.

Shortly thereafter more forward pressure and support play set up debutant Billy King to score out wide with Tim Grooms bullocking run making space for the Diss backs to show the forwards they could play too. The half finished 12-0 to the visitors. One concern for Diss was the injury to Gareth Watts who took a hit to the shoulder and had to be replaced.

Ten minutes into the second half, Macqueen picked up where he had left off from last season and cut through adding more thrills to his normal play to add a third try. Naz Girgin added the extras from the tee.

Incredible interplay between scrum-half Naz Gurgin and number seven Will Foote down the centre channel was the making of Diss's next score, as the Glouscester man sneaked through a gap and scored under the posts to give Diss the bonus point requested before play began by skipper Benny Goodman. Next it was Lee Dubar on debut, playing on the blindside who took possession of the ball in the centre and ran in from the half way line for Diss's fifth try not long after the kick off.

With 60 minutes on the clock, Diss were looking dynamic in the Crusaders 22, and that energy was promptly rewarded as Macqueen found space in the centre for his second try.

Crusaders had periods of play in the Diss 22 but with solid tackling by Nick Yager among others, who had a double figure tackling count for the afternoon. Crusaders came close to scoring but were kept out apart from a simple penalty in front of the posts.

Little time had passed before Naz Girgin, benefiting from some snappy passing from Macqueen and a quick Foote offload, crashed over for a try to get Diss nearer the 50 mark.

Entering the final 20 minutes of the match, Owen Atkinson made it on the score sheet as Crusaders were caught napping and the Welsh winger tore through the defence with ease. One more try was added by Andy Macalister who found more space as the game went on to score under the posts for a comprehensive win and keeps Diss up the top of the table. Captain Goodman knows sterner tests are ahead and no more than next opponents Holt 2 who travel to Belrope Lane next weekend looking to avenge their 1st teams defeat at Diss the previous weekend.

Report by Benny Goodman.