Diss Rugby Club head coach Alex Kelsall praises display in key victory at relegation rival Cantabrigian ahead of test at high-flying Newmarket

Alex Kelsall’s Diss side head to second-placed Newmarket in Counties 1 Eastern Counties tomorrow buoyed by halting their losing run at Cantabrigian to lift themselves off the foot of the table.

The Blues had been challenged by their head coach going into the key fixture, following a 50-20 home loss to fellow relegation rivals Bury St Edmunds II, to prove they are worthy of playing at Level 7.

And the players, including the return of talented young centre Toby Drake for only his second game of the season following a recurring ankle break, certainly delivered for him with a stirring display earning a 26-7 victory in Cambridgeshire (see report below).

It ended a run of four straight defeats to four points above their opponents and three behind Ely in the first guaranteed safe spot.

Kelsall said: “I am exceptionally happy with how the boys performed, it had an extremely professional air to it with every Diss player leaving everything out on the pitch.

“The league is so competitive this year and neither team deserves relegation judging on the evidence from last Saturday, but it takes points to progress and we were able to achieve the bonus point win.”

But they will face a big challenge in trying to back up the victory at a Newmarket side who cannot afford a slip-up as one of three teams, with Southwold and Ipswich, all vying for the runners-up spot with Norwich’s continued perfect record putting them well clear at the top.

The Blues lost 25-9 in the reverse fixture to Newmarket, in October.

“This week’s preparation has been great and the team looks very strong for Saturday’s clash against Newmarket,” said Kelsall.

Blues stand up to challenge

A phenomenal team performance from Diss saw them run out convincing winners 26-7 in their key game at Cantabrigian on Saturday, with the victory seeing them lift themselves off the bottom of Regional 1 South East at the expense of their hosts.

From the first whistle,with the importance of the fixture heading into the season’s final straight, both teams made it clear that the game was going to be no walk in the park for either.

The first 10 minutes were gruelling with hard running from the returning Toby Drake, Joe Germany and cousin Angus Germany putting the Cantabs line under serious pressure.

They were able to hold on and fire back with some punchy carries of their own, but the Diss defensive line was up to the task.

After continued territory gain and a penalty from five metres out, George West took a signature quick tap and slipped through the Cantabs’ pack to dot down and open the scoring.

Shortly after, Diss made good use of a well-rehearsed lineout move, 10 metres from the Cantabs try line. A pinpoint throw from James Hayhoe found its mark, and the pack proceeded to form a maul resembling a herd of migratory wildebeest. With the try line acting as the Masai Mara, they hurtled towards it with precision and power, with Michael Jones collecting the ball at the back and dropping onto the line.

Diss, now 12 points to the good, weathered the Cantabs storm that was to follow until the very closing minutes of the first half.

A solid defensive set on their own five metre line, with dominant
tackling from Joe Gant and Tiger Shaw, eventually caved and the Norfolk visitors went into half-time 12-7 up.

The message at the break was short and effective, as Diss came out of the blocks firing on all cylinders.

George West was kicking well for territory, backed up with some hard yards from Harley Skidmore and Matt Richards.

Another dominant driving maul was formed, this time with hooker James Hayhoe the recipient at the back. With a strong dose of white line fever, he ploughed over for Diss’ third try.

Although starting to pull away on the scoreboard, the game never feltcomfortable.

Cantabs were fighting hard with every fibre left in their being, forcing some high pressure tackling from the Webster twins on the wings and Elliott Fulcher at full-back.

The final play of the game was initiated by a Cantabs scrum on their own five-metre line.

Diss were keen to keep the pressure on using a renewed hunger and a blitz style defensive approach. It paid off as Jordan Dunning intercepted a pass and sliced through to score the bonus point try for a final score of 26-7 that all 18
players could say they had
contributed towards.