Rugby: Diss clinch spot in semis
- Credit: PA
Woodford 11 Diss 12
Diss moved into the regional semi-finals of the RFU Intermediate Cup competition with a hard-earned victory at Woodford.
With the elements in their favour Woodford immediately put the visitors under pressure and Diss' inability to relieve it allowed the hosts the opportunity to open their account with a well-taken penalty on eight minutes.
At this stage of the game Woodford were displaying a more cohesive style of play and on 11 minutes they increased their lead to 8-0 following a clean break through the Diss midfield.
Two missed penalties from the home side were ultimately to prove vital, although with two yellow cards awarded to three-quarters Will Scott and Sean McClure before half-time, a further successful penalty took the home side into the interval 11-0 ahead, with Diss firmly on the back foot.
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Diss responded in positive fashion at the beginning of the second half, however. Momentum and confidence now inspired the visitors and following renewed accuracy when in possession, hooker Chris Craven broke through the midfield to sprint 22 metres to score the Norfolk side's opening try.
Then, on 58 minutes, a superbly-executed driving maul produced attacking ball on the front foot for Giles West to score a second try, converted by Sean McClure. Diss now led 12-11 with the final quarter remaining.
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Fresh legs were introduced, with Patrick Lawton making his debut in the centre.
A resurgent Henry Passmore was unlucky not to be awarded a third Diss try following a sprint along the touchline.
Diss now pressed to close the game out, unfortunately succumbing to a Woodford interception that for all intents and purposes looked like the winning score for the home side. However, a superb covering tackle from full-back Sean McClure saved the day.
A final Woodford thrust was eventually repelled, allowing Diss to move into the next round.
Diss certainly had the better of the second half, with Kimi Latu running hard all afternoon and Jon Trede working tirelessly at the breakdown. The Diss scrummage was totally dominant, whilst the ever-reliable Will Hemmant at scrum-half provided an efficient service to his three quarters.
Diss return to London 2NE action on Saturday when they entertain second placed Sudbury.
