Brentwood laid down a marker for the new year on Saturday, scoring 10 tries and restricting a powerful Diss side to a solitary penalty kick in response.

Diss arrived on the back of two good performances against teams just below Brentwood in the league, their forward orientated game centred around their powerful back row but Brentwood fronted up impressively to the challenge and comprehensively won what could have been a tricky fixture.

The Diss game plan was obvious from the very first kick off with the forwards trying to punch holes in the Brentwood defence with their influential number 8 Steve Hipwell making a lot of carries. Brentwood didn’t let them gain any ground and turned the ball over allowing Bradley Burr to pin them back with some intelligent kicks, Charlie Wilkinson’s early try was disallowed and gave the visitors a chance to clear their line with a penalty and a further home infringement was penalised with a penalty which the visiting centre kicked to give Diss a 3-0 early lead. Brentwood weren’t to be denied for long though and some quick thinking by James White put Ben Amato in for a well deserved try, this was followed soon after by a typically powerful Paul Bradley try – both converted by Burr and Brentwood took the lead 14 -3. Jack Richards finished off a lovely move soon after and when Tom Simpson scored in the corner Brentwood had the bonus point and a 26-3 lead, this was extended soon after when Amato scored his second from a strong rolling maul and the home side had a commanding 31-3 lead at halftime.

The second half started with a scrappy 10 minute period when neither side managed to put together any fluent attacks, Brentwood went close a couple of times but handling errors cost them until the passes started to stick and Simpson’s second try of the match was just reward for some lovely rugby. With Brentwood stretching the visitor’s defence with strong carries from Bradley, Woodcock and Visser and the backs looking to spread the ball at any opportunity further scores looked inevitable. George Bassenger got on the scoresheet, finishing off a fine move from a Josh Stannard break and offload and Adam Thomas scored a fine individual try from an interception from a rare Diss foray into Brentwood territory. Woodcock finished cleverly at the base of the posts for Brentwood’s ninth try and Stannard finished up the scoring with the last play of the game, a try that involved quick hands from the whole backline to open up space in the corner. Burr found some consistency with the boot converting 4 of the 5 second half tries to bring the final score to 64-3 and complete a comprehensive home victory. A perfect way to start the new year and Brentwood will look to continue their unbeaten run when Colchester visit on the back of scoring over one hundred points against Saffron Walden at home.

The Davlav Man of the Match went to Adam Thomas, physical defensive work and intelligent attacking kept Diss on the back foot all game. Scored a great individual try. Colchester next Saturday 13th Jan at King Georges.

Brentwood Team: Payne, Richards, Visser, Woodcock, Killington, Amato, Whaley, Bradley, White, Burr, Hornby, Thomas, Stannard, Wilkinson, Simpson Subs: Tilly, Bassenger, Pollinger