Brentwood, currently 11th in London 2, travelled to play Diss, currently fourth, in the penultimate fixture of the League season.

Brentwood's form has varied somewhat over the past few weeks but they were still hoping to give a good account of themselves against one of the most consistent clubs of the past two seasons.

However it was not to be!

Brentwood held their annual dinner/dance the night before this match and what could have been a close game became a stroll for Diss.

The home team led them a merry dance and when Brentwood woke up half-time had been reached and the score was 34-0 against.

The home team kicked off in favourable conditions and quickly showed their class with early pressure from their backs giving their right winger, Andy Thorpe plenty of room for him to score the first of his six tries.

Thorpe 'Major' ('Minor' played on the other wing) was a thorn in Brentwood's side all afternoon with his strength and pace and is much in demand by senior clubs.

The conversion of this try was immediately followed by a penalty and Diss were leading 10-0 with only five minutes played.

At this stage the visitors were struggling to get into the game and a crucial penalty was unfortunately missed.

Brentwood, lacking direction in all areas of the park, were repeatedly stretched by the pace of the game which allowed Diss to pierce Brentwood's defence and score another try through Thorpe.

Worse followed as two further tries followed in quick succession.

The first from a Brentwood line-out turnover and the second from a kick ahead by Thorpe which was misfielded by the visitors' full back.

With half-time appearing the ubiquitous Thorpe gathered the ball in his own 22, broke through Brentwood's defence and ran the length of the pitch for his fourth try.

Half-time with Diss leading 34-0 and Brentwood were heading for a hiding.

Their defence was in tatters and Diss being a compact, skilful and confident outfit had fully taken advantage of the situation.

Brentwood had not helped their cause with a display of lacklustre rugby.

The lack of control of the loose ball and poor line-out play gave Diss an almost non-stop supply of ball.

The start of the second half saw the weather come to the rescue of Brentwood's plight.

The heavens opened, the ball became difficult to hold, and the onslaught from Diss's backs ground to a halt.

The third quarter produced scrappy play during which the visitors pressed hard on the home team's gain line.

But with full-time approaching it was Diss who scored, again through Thorpe Major, with a try following another turnover of Brentwood's ball.

Brentwood at this point sent on Shales and Meritt for Taylor and Webster.

However, this move failed to stop Thorpe scoring his sixth try with a wonderful run using all of his pace and strength.

With the score at 44-0 against Metcalf and his men were more than pleased to hear the referee's final whistle.

This was, by far, Brentwood's poorest display of the season with only the tight play of the front row being up to scratch.

Most of the players looked weary and were not showing their usual passion for the game.

The back row, missing vital players, was not a good combination while the backs' lack of organisation allowed many first tackles to be missed.

It was a game to ponder and then quickly forget.

This Saturday's game is a friendly at Colchester (kick off 3pm).

Brentwood: White, Webster (Meritt), Gibson, McConnell, Church, Van Rooyen, Twidale, Kirby, Brook, Taylor S, Killington, Brindle, Cash, Williams and Metcalf.

On September 6, 2002 Brentwood RFC will be holding a special dinner to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the club's reformation (the club being closed during the second world war).

Any past members, not in contact with the club, and who wish to attend, are asked to telephone organiser Don Eady on 01277 653219.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.