Beccles Bulls 21-37 Diss

Intermediate Cup Rd2

13 Oct 2001

In a Tetley's Cup match that saw over 50 points in total scored and was closely fought from start to finish, its hard to believe that 4 Leagues separate these 2 teams. On this performance it's easy to see why the Bull's are sitting in the top of their League while Diss are at the other end of the spectrum. In both the tight and loose play the Bulls were easily a match for their more illustrious visitors but it was really only the unforced handling errors committed by the hosts that proved the deciding factor. Time and time again the Beccles side spilled the ball with the try line begging or when major opportunities for significant positional advantage resulted in a turnover to their visitors for something a simple as a knock-on from a dropped pass.

The opening stages of the game were quite stilted with both sides testing each other tentatively. An early exchange of penalties by both No10's saw a score line of 6 all after 30 or so minutes with the only other controversial factor being the visiting No5 receiving a lenient yellow card for an outrageous late challenge on Beccles scrum-half and Skipper Owen Hadridge in what many spectators obviously felt should have been a walk to the dressing room. In the same melee Beccles No10 Puxley visited the blood-bin to be replaced temporarily by Dawson, who was eventually back on to replace injured centre Gareth Hadridge permanently 10 minutes later.

This restructuring in the midfield opened up a gap moments later for a Diss centre to force his way through for a try following a line-out deep in the Beccles half. The conversion was easily added.

Diss added another penalty before it was Beccles turn to have a man sin-binned when Darren Ley was yellow carded for some minor footwork in comparison to the earlier incident. With the numbers against them it was tough to defend but the Bulls can think themselves unlucky when Diss scored a converted try wide out in the corner following a blatant knock-on witnessed by all except the referee. Trailing 23 points to 6 with around 50 minutes played the Bulls supporters feared the worst but the home side rallied and doggedly fought their way back into the game.

Driving up field they forced themselves onward recycling the ball in a fine passage of play which forced a series of rucks and mauls right on the visitors try line. After a string of offences the Diss forwards were eventually adjudged to have killed the ball once to often and the Referee awarded a penalty try against the Diss No5. Puxley duly converted to pull the Bulls to within 10 points and minutes later added another penalty following yet another Diss rucking infringement.

This led to a purple patch for Diss who worked 2 converted tries in 10 minutes , one from an excellent forward drive which led to their No7 scoring close to the posts and the final Diss score was a simple popped pass to their inside centre from the Diss No10 , taken at pace , with a poor tackle allowing a soft try.

With only 10 minutes remaining it seemed all over but the Bulls fought back with great determination defending their 14 month unbeaten home record. Replacement prop Clark was unlucky not to get his name on the score sheet and Dawson's failure to hold onto at least 2 try scoring passes showed he has some work to do after his late return to the game this season.

The Bulls fought on and from a lineout on the edge of the Diss 22m a scrappy ball was fed by Chris Hinsley to No8 Andy Warnes who charged through the Diss pack carrying 3 with him as he stretched for the try line. Puxley narrowly missed the conversion. The Bulls galvanised by this piled on the pressure in the dying minutes, but again and again dropped passes prevented this pressure being converted into points, both Dawson and Anderson failed to control the ball with the try line begging.

So the reality was that Diss return home victorious to the next round after converting the opportunities they generated and accepting gratefully one they were gifted. While the Bulls have to live with the fact they generated far more try scoring opportunities than their considerably higher league placed visitors but simple, unforced handling errors cost them a noticeable Cup run 'scalp' and more importantly a 14 month, un beaten home record.

Beccles Skipper , Owen Hadridge , summed up the Bulls situation " Too many simple errors and too much respect for Diss early on cost us this game , but we need to learn from this set-back and take this education into our League campaign and the defence of the Norfolk Junior Cup"

Andy Warnes.

Beccles Press Officer.