Diss return home with hard-earned bonus point after tough away match
Diss earned a bonus point at Old Haberdashers. Picture: Archant - Credit: Archant
Diss returned from Hertfordshire with a try scoring bonus point, having established a strong position in the game prior to half-time.
The third quarter proved decisive with Old Haberdashers scoring three unanswered tries.
Initial exchanges were scrappy, with both sides making a series of careless errors before the visitors went in front.
On 12 minutes a well timed pass from Alex Leader sent Stephen Hipwell through the Haberdashers midfield and he timed his pass to perfection to send Jo Hegarty through to score. Poor decision-making and further handling errors then allowed Old Haberdashers to level with a well-taken try created through their three quarters.
Diss responded by scoring yet another outstanding try on 25 minutes. A Hipwell drive sent Fraser Hall yet again through the midfield and Hall cleverly accelerated into the 22 to send Hegarty over for his second try.
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Old Habs reduced the deficit following a Diss infringement with a well-struck penalty. As the half came to its conclusion the home side seized upon another Diss error in possession and Simon Clark, the home No 8, scored a fine individual try to give the home side a one-point lead at the interval.
Old Haberdashers turned in a superb display after the break to take the game away from Diss. Pressurising the visitors' defensive rearguard allowed the home side to score only two minutes after the restart. Chris Beaird was then yellow-carded and the home side scored two further tries in a 10-minute period of total domination.
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Hipwell led a Diss recovery. scoring an outstanding individual try, but Old Habs were now playing with a growing confidence and took advantage of a tiring defence to score two further well-taken tries.
The priority for Diss then was to come away with a bonus point and intelligent inter-play set up Angus McDaniel to score the crucial try, well converted by a Jack Peacock drop goal.
The final score clearly reflected a deserved home win, although a full-strength Diss side would certainly have asked more demanding questions and they will be hoping some players return for Saturday's home game with Letchworth.
