Diss 19
Eton Manor 5
(London 3NE)

HAVING already secured the title a fortnight earlier it was a much changed side that travelled to play-off chasing Diss on Saturday.

Coach Ged White and the captain Mark Cushieri had stressed all week that they still wanted the New Wilderness side to finish the season on a real high.

Diss, however, had other ideas and with the visitors forced to play uphill in the first half they spent most of the opening ten minutes defending their goal line.

Having gone 5-0 down after a defensive mix up following a kick in behind the backs they allowed home skipper Ian Gibb in.

Manor however put together their best bit of play in the first half, but weren't able to force their way over.

Normal service soon resumed and the rest of the first half saw the visitors bravely defending their line but still conceding tries from Cheech Goodson and Chong Wardlaw-Goodson that were both converted by Williamson to put Diss 19-0 up at the break.

Manor made a number of changes at half time, with Ian Lovett coming on in the second row and Dave Dennis into the front row.

Further positional alterations saw second row Ian Edwards move to play fly half, Tony Scheepers to fullback, Ross Reed into the centre and brother Reece reverting to his natural position of scrum half.

But while the changes made the Manor much more competitive for the second half they were unable to close the gap to any closer than twelve points.

Manor's try came after a period of pressure on the Diss try line and hooker Tyrson Goodchild was driven over by Reece Reed.

Visiting coach White said: "Diss are a reasonably good side, especially at home.

"But if we had shown a bit more nous in the first half and kept them to a single score I think we'd have come away with the points.

"Still, next season will be interesting with plenty of local derby games to test our capabilities. We are looking forward to the challenge immensely."