After a weeks break from league action Diss can look back at the previous league game against South Woodham Ferrers with a view that the team played the best rugby in first half that they had played all season and demonstrated what a good side they can be. The second half was a different story and its fair to state that South Woodham Ferrers changed tactics, and although Diss defence was outstanding, it was our penalty count in the second half that kept us pinned in our own half for most of the half. The critical area was the scrum, which is normally a solid area for the team, with 5 scrum penalties against us and then a penalty try from a scrum offence which resulted in Matt Richards being yellow carded, it did not allow Diss to get any forward momentum. The game was on a knife edge with the score at 22 to 20 in favour of Diss. The game end with the last kick of the game being a penalty kick at goal for South Woodham Ferrers from near the half way line out wide in an attempt to win the game by a point. Luckily it fell short and Diss after a fashion managed to retain the ball and kick the ball dead to win by 2 points.

It was a great game and Diss for the second time this season topped South Woodham Ferrers to stay at the top of the league, now with a 4 point gap.

The positive points from the game was the defensive performance as the quality of a side can, be measured many will say, not how good they play going forward, but how well they play going backwards. The Diss team displayed the ability to win on the back foot. Overall Diss on the day defended furiously and it was a great team performance. Young Ed Hudson played a full game and his effort was immense for an 18yr old. He was the man of the match along with the every reliable Ali Abercrombie. John Laurie put in a shift and was unlucky to be yellow carded for an adjudged high tackle in the second half. It was also good to see big second row forward Will Hudson on his return from injury, who helped to shore up the defence with his hard hitting defensive tackling in the second half.

This weeks game against Cantabs is another must win game and the pressure will be on again. The last league game against them before Christmas ended in a draw, after Diss had gone into a comfortable lead and then sat back and allowed Cantabs back into the game. This was another game where Diss had trouble in the scrum against a powerful and experienced Cantabs front row. This area will be an interesting area again this week and the battle in the forwards with the well drilled Cantabs pack will be key to who comes out on top. The Diss line out has been impressive with great work ensuring a good supply of ball on our own throw and our defensive systems ensure that we disrupt and win opposition ball on their throw. The attacking patterns which the team have worked hard on in training are now firmly set and produce questions for all sides Diss come up against.

Diss Players have the ability across the club, but all must maintain their discipline and reduce the penalty count in games. No game is easy in this league so we look forward to the battle against Cantabs.

The numbers on club training nights have been good all season, but its important with five games to go that all players continue to train and develop their individual skills and unit skills. This is the sharp end of the season and the Diss players in all three teams need to keep up the commitment and demonstrate a desire to win every game. The systems and coaching processes are in place and it’s down to the desire of the players to strive to be the best and take the club at all levels onto a better quality of rugby, that could be on offer next season if they deliver in these last games.

Stu Hudson