Thurrock 51, Diss 5: Diss had an afternoon to forget on a sweltering afternoon in Essex.

Having gone behind to an early penalty they aggresively took the game to Thurrock to force the hosts to concede a penalty under their posts. Hemmant took it quickly, passed it to Cayley, who burst through to score with a try.

Thurrock responded with some clever kicking by their fly-half to push Diss into their own territory, backed up by relentless pressure from the pack. Eventually the lead changed with a penalty but Diss still tried to play their expansive game, despite the conditions. They were thwarted by the Thurrock three quarters giving signs of greater things to come. When Keith Rix was yellow carded it proved to be a turning point as Thurrock scored two tries before half-time.

In the second half Diss continued to attack the Thurrock line, but when the hosts counter-attacked they proved more effective, their backs running in two more tries, each converted.

Diss were still prepared to have a go but eventually ran out of steam, with Thurrock running in two more tries.