DISS 17, AMPTHILL 41: Diss can feel proud of their efforts against a powerful side who included a former British Lion in their ranks and are pushing Hertford at the top of the league.

Diss were ahead within three minutes when Andy Horne broke the Ampthill line to offload to Will Farrer, who scored under the posts. He also added the two extra points.

Diss had their tails up and were forcing Ampthill on to the back foot, but a series of penalties gave the initiative away and the visitors grabbed their opportunity. The ball was lost on a throw in and good handling by the Ampthill No 10 put their winger in to score an unconverted try.

Three minutes later an unopposed break down the blindside from a ruck saw the Ampthill centre run through to score a converted try. Diss were under pressure now and the experience of the visitors' pack showed when after a series of scrums on the Diss line the referee awarded a penalty try. Diss finished the half the stronger, with a good break by Tom Palmer and Deaglan Hall, but the ball was knocked on. From the resulting play Diss were awarded a penalty, which Farrer just got between the posts.

The first 20 minutes of the second half were a battle between two fairly even sides. The turning point was a Ampthill penalty which opened the floodgates to allow the visitors to score 19 unanswered points, with both wingers picking up tries. Adam Williamson, Aaron Bliss and Josh Williams all came on for the final few minutes, and Diss finished with a flourish when a scything run by Andy Horne set up Steve Hipwell to score under the posts, Will Farrer converting to leave the final score 17-41.

• On a day full of emotion for the club, all the members, players, visitors and spectators paid a fitting tribute to David Ford, the Diss president, who died recently. All six playing teams and hundreds of supporters lined up in front of the clubhouse before the match for a minute's silence to show their respect for the years of service that he had given to the club.