RUGBY: Diss welcome back Basingstoke to Mackenders this Saturday for the clash of the two teams who are propping up the league, and which promises to be a real 'six pointer' of a fixture.

Basingstoke are nine points ahead of Diss in the league, but this fixture (ko 2.15pm) and the one next week against North Walsham will be targeted as the most likely matches where Diss can pick up much-needed victories.

The fixture earlier in the season at Basingstoke saw Diss quick off the blocks to be 17-0 up, before the momentum was lost, and Diss ended up losing 43-23, in a tighter game than the score suggests.

With many injuries and the unavailability of players it will be a much-changed squad.

Squad: Alistair Abercrombie, Pete Bray, Aarron Bliss, Matt Briggs, Chris Beaird, Paul Cayley, Will Farrer, Harry Gooderham, Will Hemmant, Steve Hipwell, Matt Prior, Charlie Precious, Keith Rix, Matt Richards, Chris Trede, Josh Williams, Warren Wilby, Giles West.

The Thirds are playing Norwich at Mackenders, ko 2.15pm.

Squad: Peachey, Keegan, Rodgers, Callum, Jacobs, Page, Foote, Hall, S Williamson. A Williamson, Goodge, Gurgin, Knapp, MacQueen, Goymer, Miller, Cleave, Courridge, Webster, Harvey.

Gravesend 47, Diss 7

Another hard day out for Diss as they were comprehensibly beaten by Gravesend on Saturday.

Diss had a number of enforced changes due to injury and non-availability, a plague now reaching Biblical proportions. Diss had the first chance to score with a long-range penalty attempt that failed.

Eight minutes into the game Gravesend number 14 Scott Curley broke away for a fine individual try, converted by Dave Dorton,whose kicking was excellent all afternoon.

Gravesend spurned two kicking chances, opting instead for the territorial game, pinning Diss deep in their own half.

A break by number eight Ziggy Stevens led to scrum half Clement going over for a converted try.

Two further tries before half-time left the visitors trailing 26-0.

Steve Hipwell, making the first of a number of good runs, unloaded to Giles West who in 'Chariots of Fire' style put his head back and sprinted for the line, with Chris Beaird converting.

This was the last hurrah for Diss and Gravesend ran in a further four tries in the second half leaving the final score at 47-7 to the home team.

Diss Director of Rugby David Hall said that he was proud of the efforts of his players who travelled and worked incredibly hard against the odds.

Diss have invited a number of guest coaches to take sessions on Tuesday nights, everyone welcome.

Finally a correction to last week's report – the Diss try was scored by Josh Williams not Tim Groom.