DISS-APPOINTING ROCHFORD STILL MANAGE A BONUS POINT WIN

By their own admission Rochford were slack and made too many handling errors and not clinic enough as well as giving away too many penalties. Having said that, Diss played well using their big pack and speedy backs to force the visitors into mistakes, especially in the early stages of the game.

On a bright, but chilly afternoon, in mid Norfolk a large crowd settled back to watch a competitive encounter between two sides at opposite ends of this division.

Diss, at home, are always a handful and they showed this to effect as the game started. They attacked hard and were rewarded with a penalty kick that drifted wide before they ran in for a good try.

The boys in black at this stage looked out of salts and not their usual selves but gradually Rochford came back and forced the pace up to the Diss try line and scrum half Steven Jay went over for a fine individual effort to level the score.

Shortly after more attacking play saw captain Harry Hudson drive through to score. Rochford kept the pressure up but gave away unnecessary penalties at crucial times or made untypical handling errors to deny more points coming.

Diss responded with some attacking play of their own and only good, hard defensive work kept them at bay.

Next up was second row Jamie Douglas, returning from injury, to power over for a third try. Cameron Greenhall was having a slightly off day by his standards with his place kicking and had been unable to add any extra points from previous three tries but did make that up when full back Mark Billings jinxed through to score the fourth and bonus point try.

A further try came from new centre Chris Dudman and Greenhall added the conversion and Rochford turned around at the break 29 – 5 ahead.

The second half was much of the same with Diss pushing hard up-front disrupting Rochford’s ball and managing, on occasions, to turn ball over but were unable to capitalise on it as the Essex lads upped their game and got back into scoring mode.

Billings went over for second try which Greenhall converted before flanker Stuart Whatling got into the act with another try. Although slightly off par with his goal kicking Cameron Greenhall had an excellent game making some lovely breaks and tackling like a demon and his line kicking was first class.

Another player who was having an impressive match was number eight Chris Shields who put his powerful frame on the line time and again and made big yards with his carrying.

Rochford applied more pressure through the backs and forwards to force Diss back onto their own line and big Sam Fombo sped over to finish off a good piece of play and Greenhall converted to take the score to 48 – 5 in favour of the visitors.

As been said Rochford were not at their best but there were some nice touches throughout the afternoon and Mark Billings third try was just that.

After some fast, skilful running and interplay from deep in their own half the ball came to the full back who jinxed, swerved and then put on the afterburners to race through to ground between the posts. Greenhall added the extra. Best try of the game and a little piece of magic that warmed the chilled bones of supporters on the side lines.

To finish off the afternoon’s scoring Harry Hudson went over for the tenth and his second try.

Another difficult away game out of the way but the team will need to be a little more focussed next week when they play host to Sudbury.