Diss 1st XV 8 v 35 Bury St.Edmunds 1st XV

Spring is officially here, however Diss were unable to generate enough spring in their step to win against a resurgent Bury side.

Most sides have come to fortress Mackenders this season determined to win, this has not been the case, Bury however had other ideas and started the game at pace with an intensity in attack and defence that continued throughout the game.

Diss fought well, the pack in particular, matched the Bury pack physically, but were unable to match Bury when they widened play.

Within three minutes Bury had taken the lead with a penalty confidently converted by their fly half, after Diss had gone over in a ruck.

Unforgiving in both defence and attack both sides put in some bone crunching tackles to stop scoring chances, Diss coming close a number of times after good work from Groom, Horne and Craven.

However the deadlock was broken by a Bury counterattack, with a kick through the Diss defence allowing their winger to pounce on the ball and score. But as in previous matches Diss are quick with comebacks and within ten minutes had scored a try after good pressure on the Bury try line allowed Chartier to spin the ball out to Holt and with a lovely weighted pass to Beaird he was able to dive over in the corner and score.

Before half time Diss were awarded a penalty and Wilby converted to bring the scores level as the half time whistle went. Phil Sharpe has always been able to impress upon the Diss players at half time the value of consistency, but Bury in second half proved to be a Diss nemesis.

The Bury fly half in particular adapting to the conditions, caused a number of problems for the Diss defence and was able to instigate a number of Bury attacks that led to four tries being scored in the second half without reply.

Diss tried to rescue their position a number of times, but this was hampered by the number of errors made in handling and free kicks given away. As time moved on the match was now running away from Diss, and with Bury having such a grip on the counter attack Diss were on the back foot for most of the second half.

With the final game of the season approaching, and with the Norfolk cup final on the horizon, Diss will have to dust themselves down and move forward for the final two games, for what has been a very good season for both players and the coaching team alike.


Arthur Gittins