Diss power to play-offs

Braintree 5, Diss 37

A second comprehensive away victory in succession enabled Diss to secure a place in the play-offs, with the ability to secure home advantage within their grasp.

This was, once again, a good all-round team performance which will give the coaching staff much satisfaction.

From the beginning of this London Three North-East match, the away side showed their dominance. The Diss pack surged forward, and were camped on the opposition five metre line for a series of four successive scrums, before the Braintree defence was breached by second row Paul Cayley diving over an opposition player to score the first try. This was not converted, but just four minutes later, full-back Chris Beaird caught the ball in his own half and made a good 30 metres of ground before being tackled.

As Braintree had knocked on, Diss had the put-in, and the pack demonstrated their power by crossing the opposition line for hooker Richard Horne to score an unconverted try near the corner.

Following a penalty awarded when Braintree were caught offside, Diss won their own line-out on the five metre line and drove forward for Horne to score from the base of the maul. Beaird stepped up to convert in difficult conditions.

The visitors once again powered up-field to be halted after Braintree were adjudged offside. Scrum-half Pete Chartier took a quickly tapped penalty, and caught the opposition defence by surprise as he scored near the left corner. Once again Beaird made light of the conditions by converting.

Following another five metre line-out, a familiar catch and drive move was finished when Horne scored his third try of the half.

This was not converted, but it was not long before the Diss pack were again deep into opposition territory. After several set scrums, Cayley gained good possession and dived over to complete the first half scoring.

Diss took a 34 point lead into the second period but knew that the foul conditions would now be against them.

Diss were now forced to defend for the first time in the match. A period of 15 minutes passed with neither side gaining advantage, before Braintree were awarded a penalty deep into opposition territory after a Diss player was caught not rolling away. The Braintree right wing got possession, and showed good pace to score an unconverted try.

The final score of the game came when Adam Williamson converted a penalty, awarded five minutes before time.

With no league game this weekend, Diss have a friendly at home versus West Norfolk. The Saracens have no fixture, but the 3rds are away to Swaffham 2nds. The 4ths are against Fakenham 2nds. All games kick off at 3pm.

The Colts have a fixture at Wymondham, while the U17s are away on tour. The U16s are at home training, but the U15s play North Walsham at home. The U14s are playing Holt at home, while the U13s are training. Finally, the Minis are also training.