Diss win against all odds

With one of their best team performances of the season, Diss won a game where the odds seemed stacked against them. Despite fielding a side ravaged by injury against Stevenage, and going 7-0 down after just five minutes, they rallied to achieve a significant away victory 35-20.

With one of their best team performances of the season, Diss won a game where the odds seemed stacked against them.

Despite fielding a side ravaged by injury against Stevenage, and going 7-0 down after just five minutes, they rallied to achieve a significant away victory 35-20.

It didn't look good for the visitors when the Stevenage left winger touched down in the corner from his side's first attack, with the try being converted.

However, within two minutes Diss replied with a score of their own. The forwards gained good possession from a line-out and the pack crossed the try-line for hooker Richard Horne to score an unconverted try in the right corner.

Just three minutes later Diss were in the lead. After turning over possession in the line-out the ball was spun down the back line, where centre Andy Thorpe timed his pass to winger Aarron Bliss superbly. This allowed the winger to show his speed before scoring a second unconverted try to the right of the posts.

The Diss lead was to last just two minutes as Stevenage's huge pack forced their way across the try-line for their hooker to score. Again their fly-half was able to convert and the home side now had a four point advantage.

Stevenage increased their lead with a penalty before Diss scored their third try on the half hour mark.

They made good ground through No. 8 Ali Butler and flanker Josh Williams before the ball reached winger Alex Kelsall. who offloaded beautifully in the tackle to Thorpe. He side-stepped his way through to score in the corner.

Stevenage converted another penalty before the break to move five points ahead.

With the second half less than 10 minutes old Thorpe broke through the home defence to score under the posts. Skipper Adam Williamson converted to give Diss a two point lead.

As the game went on it was the visitors who were becoming more dominant and Williamson increased the lead with a couple of penalties.

With the game in the final minutes, a high tackle by the Stevenage hooker left Kelsall injured and he left the field in a neck brace, to be replaced by Pete Chartier.

From the resulting penalty, the pack secured good possession upfield and drove over the line for Groom to score the final try of the game. Williamson once again converted and the final whistle blew.