Double for Rossouw as Diss get hands on cup

Beccles 17, Diss 35: Diss overcame the spirited challenge of Beccles to lift the Woodforde's Norfolk Cup yesterday. An upset looked on the cards when the hosts battled back from a poor start to lead 17-16 at the break.

Beccles 17, Diss 35

Diss overcame the spirited challenge of Beccles to lift the Woodforde's Norfolk Cup yesterday.

An upset looked on the cards when the hosts battled back from a poor start to lead 17-16 at the break.

But Diss, who are two leagues higher in the rugby pyramid, then showed their class to pull away, with a superb individual try from winger Alex Kelsall setting them on the road to a hard-earned success.

The visitors started brightly and quickly moved into a 10 point lead, with a penalty from Adam Williamson being followed by a try from flanker Gideon Rossouw, which the skipper converted.

Another Williamson penalty made it 13-0 but fears of a mismatch quickly disappeared as Beccles hit back in style.

Justin Geyser's try, converted by Luke Wade, started the ball rolling and 10 minutes later the deficit was down to a single point as Marcus Sale went over.

Beccles kept up the good work with another unconverted try from Charlie Hall before a Williamson penalty reduced the arrears to a single point at the halfway point.

It had been a thrilling first half worthy of the occasion and the excitement continued after the interval, with the key moment coming on the hour mark.

There didn't appear to be too much danger as Kelsall picked up the ball deep in his own half, but the teenager had other ideas as he raced almost the length of the pitch to touch down.

Diss never looked back after that, with Aaron Bliss quickly adding another try, converted by Williamson. The visitors rounded off the scoring when Rossouw scored his second try, converted by Chris Beaird.