Alex Kelsall looking for Diss Rugby Club side to build upon ‘proud’ display at high-flying Newmarket in home derby with North Walsham II

Diss head coach Alex Kelsall is looking for his side to build upon a ‘very proud’ display at high-flying Newmarket when they head into tomorrow’s derby cauldron against North Walsham II at Mackenders (2pm).

The Blues picked up what they hope will prove a valuable bonus point in the 24-23 defeat the second-placed west Suffolk side on Saturday (see page 31), leaving one place and four points from guaranteed safety in Counties 1 Eastern Counties.

And following two very encouraging away displays, also including the key 26-7 victory at Cantabrigian that saw them switch places with their rivals to get off the bottom of the table, Kelsall’s charges will be out to make amends for the 50-20 reverse to local rivals Bury St Edmunds II on home turf last time out.

It begins the five-game run-in which will see them take on four bottom-half teams, ahead of next weekend’s trip to leaders Norwich. And the Blues’ head coach is looking to harness the display at Newmarket for a positive result in tomorrow’s all-Norfolk affair against a seventh-placed Vikings side who won the reverse fixture 29-25.

Reflecting on how close they went to inflicting a defeat on second-placed Newmarket, he said: “They are a very good side. It was a rescheduled game, so it always throws selection up in the air a little bit, but we did a very, very good job of holding on to them and we did the Diss badge very, very proud with the amount of effort and how competitive we were in the game.

“Unfortunately, it didn’t quite go the way we wanted it and it’s always a little bit more difficult to take when it could have been so much more for us.

“But no, we’re very happy with what we achieved and it gives us a really good shot now.

“The remaining five games, four of them are around the same area in the table as us, so we’re still fully motivated to go forward and ensure that we stop that relegation pressure.

“And North Walsham this weekend is going to be a big, big game for us.”

Despite the distance geographically between the two sides, the rivalry from both club’s National League days persists as they look to deliver their supporters a key victory.

“There’s been massive rivalry between the two teams and it’s gone Diss’ way sometimes, North Welsham’s way others,” said Kelsall.

“And definitely there’ll be no lack of motivation for Saturday with the opponents that we’re facing.”

Young centre Toby Drake has now come through two games on his return from a recurring ankle break, leaving his coach full of praise for what he has achieved.

“Toby’s done brilliantly,” he said. “It was a significant injury but he has shown a massive

amount of fortitude to be able to step back on the rugby pitch.

“And he’s making massive, massive strides towards the impact that he and the club want to see.So yes, I’m very, very happy with Toby.”

He revealed several injuries had been picked up at Newmarket but did not want to give out names, feeling confident the squad will step up in their absence.