COLCHESTER 16

TONBRIDGE JUDDIAN 47

National League Three London and SE Division

STRUGGLING Colchester fell to their heaviest loss of the season to a skilful and well-drilled Tonbridge team.

The Blacks have now lost seven successive games and are without a win in the current campaign.

But they were beaten by a Tonbridge side who brought a high tempo adventurous rugby that will see them challenge for promotion.

The game was played in a competitive but good spirit, aided by the consistent and clear decisions of lady referee Nikki O’Donnell.

Colchester competed throughout with many positive personal performances but, forced to play a chasing game, took reckless chances and made unforced errors that gifted scoring chances the Juddians ruthlessly exploited.

The taller and heavier Tonbridge pack retained ball well and disrupted Colchester's possession whilst the visitors’ backs attacked with pace and angles of attack.

Tonbridge’s stonewall defence held attack after attack from the men in black.

Colchester fell behind to an early score as Tonbridge kicked a penalty to touch.

The textbook lineout catch and drive execution led to a try for flanker Ben Ashmore, with fly-half Liam Prescott adding the first of his six conversions.

Colchester responded with a series of spirited attacks, with new centre Brandon Fanolua impressing on his home debut. Tonbridge conceded a penalty for offside that David Higgins converted into three points.

The first scrum saw the larger Tonbridge pack drive to win turnover ball and counter attack, with Colchester unable to defend centre Tom Nicol's angled run for his try.

Higgins dummied his way to break the Tonbridge line and lead a Colchester attack that led to a 40-metre penalty score. But excitement led to rash, rushed handling errors that gifted possession to Tonbridge whose quick counter-attack resulted in a try for flanker Richie Bent.

With their confidence growing, Tonbridge moved the ball through several phases to gain ground, fullback James Copsey making a break to set Nicol in for his second try and a 26-9 half-time lead.

A move straight off the Tonbridge training ground saw fast handling and angled running at pace mesmerise the Colchester defence for Copsey's early second-half score.

Colchester tried to raise their game in a series of attacks but a comedy of errors saw uncontrolled loose ball left trailing behind a ruck, Tonbridge lock David Irvine eagerly seizing the unprotected ball to race in a try under the posts.

Luck deserted Colchester as a kick ahead bounced wickedly to be grabbed by Tonbridge for a breakaway try by wing Hugo Watson.

Prescott converted for a 47-9 lead with 25 minutes to play but as Tonbridge eased up, Colchester rallied to mount a series of attacks.

Wing James Crozier, prop Jerone Awesu and scrumhalf Matt Wadling went close while skipper Liam Pickett led by example, joining brother Ollie Pickett, flanker Joe Flexman and Number Eight Danny Whiteman in working hard to mount repeated attacks to cross for a score.

Determined Tonbridge defence stonewalled waves of Colchester attacks but breakdown penalties earned yellow cards for Juddians’ flanker Richie Nauer before prop Steve Neli was sin-binned for swinging a punch.

Tonbridge defence buckled and repeated infringements earned Colchester a penalty try for which Crozier added the conversion, with the last kick of the game.