COLCHESTER 31

SUTTON AND EPSOM 37

National League 3 London & SE

COLCHESTER suffered a heartbreaking last-gasp defeat against Sutton and Epsom following a ding-dong thriller at Mill Road.

They conceded from the last move of the match in a match where the lead change hands many times, enthralling the large crowd that included England RFU president Peter Baines.

A committed team performance earned Colchester a consolation four try bonus plus a losing bonus point.

Home debutant Te Albert impressed with strong running and tackling at centre, wing James Crozier adding 16 points with a try, penalty and four conversions.

However, the pressure of seeking their second win of the season forced errors that conceded possession and points for the home side.

Sutton and Epsom worked hard to compete throughout, with their never-say-die attitude earning an extra four-try bonus point.

Fullback Stefan Cooksammy bagged a brace of tries, with the pack disrupting home scrums in a tight but fairly contested game.

Early Colchester pressure forced the visitors into conceding a penalty, with Crozier’s conversion opening the scoring. But Sutton and Epsom replied with a lineout catch-and-drive try from their pack to take the lead.

Sutton tried to force the game but spilled ball on the Colchester 22 was skilfully plucked from the floor at speed by Brandon Fanolua to launch a counter-attack.

That released Crozier, who raced in from 50 metres and then converted.

Sutton and Epsom replied with a series of attacks, moving the ball out of the tackle culminating in a try for wing James Faaatuatu to level the scores.

And then a poor Colchester clearance kick resulted in a lineout from which Number 8 Matt Whitaker ran in a try to put the visitors in front.

Tit-for-tat scoring continued when Colchester’s dynamo flanker Danny Whiteman chased a kick down the wing and had the vision to loft the ball infield for scrum-half Matt Wadling to grab a try, with Crozier’s conversion levelling the half-time score at 17-17.

Colchester started the second half strongly and regained the lead after sustained pressure took play into the visitors' 22. Speed and dancing feet took Crozier past three tackles to link with Fanolua, who zipped over for a try.

Another scoring opportunity was created following Damien Brambley’s break and link to skipper Liam Pickett but was then lost to a knock on.

Sutton and Epson used the let off to move out of their half, with safe handling and hard running resulting in Cooksammy’s first try.

Trying too hard resulted in Colchester conceding a series of penalties and Epsom scrum-half Steve Munford converted two for a 30-24 lead, with five minutes remaining.

Colchester showed fighting spirit with a series of drives that took the team to a five metre lineout.

Their hard-working pack set the position for prop Jerone Awaesu to charge over for a try Crozier converted for a 31-30 lead.

The cheers of the home supporters were still ringing as Sutton and Epsom regained the kick-off.

A series of forward drives from the visitors drew in Colchester’s defence before Cooksammy’s last-gasp overlap try broke Colchester hearts.

Munford’s conversion was still aloft when the referee’s whistle ended the game.