With the 1st teams league season over and the 2nd team away to Lowestoft and Yarmouth, the mighty tertians, otherwise known as Ben’s marauders or even Holt 3rds took centre stage at Bridge Road on Saturday. At stake? A whole raft of prizes, league points, Norfolk Cup progression and last but certainly not least, the annual Harison Cup. The Harison cup has been played for annually between Holt and Diss for many years. Traditionally a 1st team fixture but unfortunately Diss 1st and Holt 1st have found themselves drifting away from each in recent seasons and are now playing several leagues apart. Holt 3rd and Diss 2nd are however in the same league this season, so the decision was taken to play this cup game between these two teams.

Holt kicked off, the stiff breeze took a hand and the ball didn’t go 10m. From the resulting scrum on half way, the Diss No. 8 broke from the base, sold several dummies, chucked in a couple of side steps and ran straight through the Holt defence to score. The conversion was good.
2 mins Holt 0 Diss 7

Holt responded to this minor(?) set back well, charging forward from the kick off and forcing a penalty on the Diss 10m line. Watson booted Holt further ahead into the Diss 22. The Diss No. 8 showed he could tackle as well as run, wiping out Hield who had to leave the pitch. From another penalty 15m out Watson chipped the Diss defence gathered his own kick and scored. He converted successfully.

7 mins Holt 7 Diss 7

Diss forced a line out 15m out from the Holt line, Holt turned the ball over and Watson cleared the lines to 25m out. Diss however won the line out, spread the ball wide and scored their 2nd try. The conversion was good.

14 mins Holt 7 Diss 14

An exchange of kicks ended with a Holt penalty on their 22. Watson kicked to the Diss 10m line but sadly the throw wasn't straight. From the resulting scrum the Diss No. 8 reprised his first minute party trick to score. The conversion was good.

21 mins Holt 7 Diss 21

8 mins later from a Diss scrum in the Holt 22......the Diss No. 8..........Diss's 4th try. The conversion was good

29 mins Holt 7 Diss 28

From a scrum 25m out Diss spread the ball wide and scored once more, the conversion again was good.

32 mins Holt 7 Diss 35

Holt drove Diss backwards from the kick off, forcing a goal line drop out. Holt surged forward once more but were penalised on the Diss 22. Diss booted into touch to bring an interesting first half to a close.

Half time Holt 7 Diss 35

With a profound sense of Deja Vu within 4 mins of the restart Holt conceded a scrum on their 10m line, the Diss No. 8.......The conversion was good.

4 mins Holt 7 Diss 42

Holt still had no intentions of giving up and were in fact playing some good rugby. They forced Diss back once more winning a scrum on the Diss 22. The ball was spread wide quickly and Jonny Southward, playing in the centre, hit the perfect line to carve straight through the Diss defence to score under the posts, Watson nailed the conversion.

7 mins Holt 14 Diss 42

Diss went forward from the kick off gaining a penalty on the Holt 22. They kicked to within 10m and went over for a try. The conversion was good.

10 mins Holt 14 Diss 49

Holt fouled at the scum some 35m out gifting Diss a free kick. The Diss No. 8 set off once more and Diss added to their tally. The conversion was good.

15 mins Holt 14 Diss 56

Holt forced Diss back into their own 22 trying to spread the ball wide they lost ground but a Diss knock on enabled them once more to reset from the scrum where the Holt pack were more than holding their own. Holt attacked the Diss defence but the ball was spilt where Diss counter attacked and scored. The conversion missed.

25 mins Holt 14 Diss 61

The Diss No. 8 hadn't quite finished for the day, once more from a Diss scrum on half way, he broke loose to set up another Diss score. The conversion was good.

29 mins Holt 14 Diss 68

Holt dominated the final 10 mins, attacking Diss again and again. Their hard work and perseverance was rewarded when Maurice crashed over for a try, the kick missed.

Full Time Holt 19 Diss 68

A highly entertaining game that was actually much much tighter than the score line would suggest. Both sides were very evenly matched, except for Diss' secret weapon! Well done Ben and all of your players.

Congratulations to our Moongazer man of the match Jonny Southward who had a great all round game at centre, defended well, was always a threat with ball, breaking the Diss defence on several occasions, and capped it off with that superb try.

DOTD Tom Watson, taking one for the Niel Robertson who's fed up with being DOTD.

The 2nds went down to L&Y in their last league game of what has been a difficult season.

Next week Saturday 12th the 1st team once again take centre stage. The Norfolk Senior Cup comes to Bridge Road. The opposition? Our illustrious neighbours North Walsham. It should be a very interesting day.

The 3rd team have one more cup tie versus Thetford away on the 26th, while the 1st too play in Norfolk cup versus Norwich away, also on the 26th.