COLCHESTER 32

FULLERIANS 17

London 1 North

by Steve Whiteman

COLCHESTER Rugby Club moved up to third place following an impressive bonus point victory over Fullerians, at Mill Road.

For three quarters of this tough contest, the muddy conditions acted as a great leveller.

But in the end, the Blacks' superior skills and fitness enabled them to pull ahead in the last quarter to maintain their unbeaten home record.

Joe Flexman returned to the team on the wing with Damien Brambley moving to fullback.

On the bench, prop Alex Mitchell was joined by ex-Colts Lewis Williams and Rory Miller at scrum half and lock respectively.

Fullerians kicked off, charged down a clearance kick and scored almost immediately.

Their fly-half added a conversion to his try, to lead 7-0.

Annoyed by this early setback, Colchester responded well and fly-half Jack White kicked to touch in the corner.

Hooker Rhys Hartley linked well with skipper Liam Pickett at the ensuing lineout and sustained pressure from the Black pack won a penalty which wing James Crozier converted to reduce the gap to four points.

After another 20 minutes of battling play by both sides in the atrocious conditions, Colchester managed to camp near the visitors’ try line.

There were several scrums that Colchester dominated leading to the referee awarding them a penalty try having yellow carded the defending Number Seven for repeated infringements.

Five minutes later, Brambley put in a long kick for his forwards to chase and their momentum led to flanker Ollie Pickett going over for a converted try in the corner.

Just before the interval, the visiting fly-half added to his tally with a successful penalty kick, with the sides turning round at 15-10.

In the second half, Mitchell came on for Joe Reid at prop for Colchester, joining Miller who had replaced injured number eight, Harrison Pickett.

Dry shirts and a rousing half-time talk by the coaches seemed to lift the Blacks and they soon charged into Fullerians territory.

Man-of-the-match Joe McMillan was at the forefront of this advance, as a desperate defender killed the ball.

It enabled Crozier to stroke over the awarded penalty kick.

But Fullerians' talented number ten kicked through the defence for their winger to score a converted try.

Colchester only trailed 18-17 and encouraged by the home supporters, again raised their game.

Following a dominant scrum on the halfway line, Ollie Pickett broke from the back, fed centres George Liversidge and Jona Crisp with flanker Danny Whiteman in support who put Crozier away for a great score in the corner.

Later Crozier almost scored again when he chased down a kick on the opposite wing, only for the referee to deem that he had knock the ball forward.

As time was running out Colchester pressed forward again, seeking to score the precious bonus point fourth try.

And White’s clever kick over the opponents' backs was gathered by Liversidge to score in the corner and complete the victory.