London 1N: Diss 8, Bury St Edmunds 35

Spring is officially here, but Diss were unable to generate enough spring in their step to win against a resurgent Bury St Edmunds side.

The visitors started this London 1N fixture at pace and with an intensity in attack and defence that continued throughout the game.

The Diss pack matched Bury physically but the hosts were unable to match Bury when they widened play. Within three minutes Bury had taken the lead with a penalty, confidently converted by their fly-half.

Diss went close a number of times after good work from Tim Groom, Andrew Horne and Chris Craven. But the first try came from a Bury counter-attack, with a kick through the Diss defence allowing their winger to score.

But as in previous matches Diss are quick with comebacks and within 10 minutes had scored a try after good pressure on the Bury try line allowed Peter Chartier to spin the ball out to Tom Holt. With a lovely weighted pass to Chris Beaird he was able to dive over in the corner and score. Before half-time Diss were awarded a penalty and Warren Wilby converted to bring the scores level as the whistle went.

The visitors were the ones to push on after the interval, the Bury fly half in particular adapting to the conditions, causing a number of problems for the Diss defence.

He was able to instigate a number of Bury attacks that led to four tries being scored in the second half without reply.

Diss tried to rescue their position a number of times, but this was hampered by the number of errors made in handling and free-kicks given away. As time moved on the match was now running away from Diss, and with Bury having such a grip on the counter-attack Diss were on the back foot for most of the second half.

With the final game of the season approaching, and with the Norfolk Cup final against North Walsham on the horizon, Diss will have to dust themselves down and move forward for the final two games of what has been a very good season for players and the coaching team alike.