Crunch game for Diss

This weekend Diss travel to Staines for a potential title-deciding game.

The Saracens are at home against Shelford in the Eastern Counties Second Team Cup, the Thirds are home against Watton and the Fourths travel to Lakenham II.

Diss made certain of a play-off place as an intelligent display of tactical rugby to suit the conditions brought a com-prehensive 31-8 win over Ruislip.

This was made all the sweeter by the news that London Division Two NE leaders Staines had been beaten - turning this weekend's trip to West London into a potential title decider.

Playing into the face of a gale in the first half the home side played a tight game to take a two-point lead into the interval. But in the first 15 minutes of the second half they destroyed their opponents with an attacking burst that saw them score and convert three tries.

After a Ruislip penalty, Diss replied. Chris Beaird caught the ball in his own half, kicked ahead and made good ground to gather and passed down the back line to centre Warren Wilby, who selflessly offloaded for flanker Mike Fuller to score in the left corner. The conversion was narrowly missed.

Diss scored when Beaird made good ground down the right wing before an inside pass sent Andy Thorpe through to cross in the right corner. A difficult kick was converted by Adam Williamson.

They scored again, Thorpe this time proving the provider as he cut through the defence before throwing a long pass to Alex Kelsall, who rounded two players and scored under the posts, converted by Williamson.

The next try came when Warren Wilby made ground down the right and spun the ball backwards for fly-half Pete Chartier to kick and chase. He outpaced the Ruislip defence to score in the right corner, Williamson again converting.

Ruislip scored an unconverted try. But the home side had the last word, Beaird sending Thorpe over for his second try of the game.