Rivals too strong for Diss

Sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and accept that you were beaten by the better team.

Given the identity of the opposition, it will sting slightly for those connected with Diss Rugby Club to make such an admission, but there can be little doubt that rivals North Walsham were fully deserving of their 50-12 victory at Mackenders on Saturday.

The visitors were on the front foot from the get-go, although the hosting Blues deserve some credit for rallying late in the first half to only go into the break 14-5 behind.

However, the second half turned into somewhat of a try-fest for North Walsham, with Diss’ Nick Garnham dotting down a consolation try late on.

Diss head coach Dave Smith – formerly of North Walsham – had no complaints about the result, though he did feel the interval had come at the wrong time for his charges.

“At half-time we were in it but ironically half-time has come at the wrong time for us,” he said.

“If we had just turned around straight away we might have been in it because we were right in their faces, but unfortunately half-time has to come at some point.

“I have lost so many lads to other clubs, but the 19 or 20 lads I still have here are really battling.

“We held them out for a long time and we really battled.

“Walsham are a very good footballing side. You get very few teams at this level with that many footballers in their side, and they were fantastic. Hats off to them, they did very well.

“We will come good and we know what our battle is.”

North Walsham signalled there intentions as early as the third minute when Ben O’Hickey finished off a neat move, before impressive fly-half Matt Hodgson added the extras.

Tarre Ferris ran in a second try soon after – converted by Hodgson – but while the writing seemed to be on the wall for Diss at this point, they held out against some intense pressure.

And their resistance was rewarded up the other end on the stroke of half-time when after a series of penalties Jon Trede went over in the corner.

It did not set up a comeback, though, as Walsham ran riot during the second half.

Jim Riley and replacement James Knight both scored two tries apiece, while the powerful Ferris also completed his brace.

Hodgson missed just one conversion, and also added a penalty, on a day to remember for the number 10.

Diss will now go in search of their first win of the season at Luton tomorrow (3pm).