COLCHESTER Rugby Club got back to winning ways with arguably their most complete performance of the season, a 23-16 win at Medway to lift spirits after two successive defeats, writes EDWARD MARRIAGE.
Outscoring their Kentish opponents by three tries to one, Colchester made use of a stiff wind at their backs in the first half, while their resolute defence repeatedly repelled the home side.
Not for the first time this season Colchester rung the changes.
Former captain Liam Pickett was back after ten months out with an injured shoulder while James Mitchell - who had announced his retirement at the end of last season - made a welcome return on the bench.
In the backs there were two new faces - Luke Rokomoce on the wing and Ross Taylor at full-back, the latter marking his debut with a try in a performance described as “outstanding” by head coach Craig Burrows, who named him man-of-the-match.
Colchester had much the better of the first half, restricting Medway to just three meaningful attacking opportunities.
But it took 20 minutes for The Blacks to take the lead, David Higgins kicking a penalty from 40 metres on the angle.
Frustrating handling errors in the red zones were proving costly, but in first-half added-time Colchester finally had their reward.
Danny Whiteman took a quick tap, with James Mitchell - on for Joe McMillan - close to scoring.
The ball was recycled right, with Sam Easton finding Connor O’Reilly who finished. Higgins converted from the touch line for a 10-0 half-time lead.
Within five minutes of the restart Colchester had their second.
O’Reilly broke down the centre and looked like he would make the try line, but chose to pass inside.
No matter - the ball came back to him via Adam Thomas and Whiteman, with O’Reilly off-loading to Taylor who touched down.
Medway belatedly got on the board with a converted try through lively wing Alfie Orris, but the visitors soon hit back with their third score, Cam Kerr touching down from an unstoppable rolling maul to put Colchester 20-7 up.
Kerr made way for Francois Rossouw, McMillan returned in place of James Mitchell while Corey Button replaced Higgins.
Medway battered away relentlessly but Colchester’s defence restricted their hosts to three further penalties. Button kicked one for Colchester as Medway were reduced to 14 men.
“Really pleased with that,” said Burrows.
“We left a few points out there, but the boys dug deep. The defence was a lot better today and we actually played a full game for 80 minutes instead of playing for 50 or 60.
“Everything is building into a good place.”
The win takes Colchester to sixth in Regional 1 South East but such is the topsy-turvy nature of the league that it’s anyone’s guess what happens next.
Colchester play Hertford at Raven Park on Saturday (3pm) but will it be the Hertford who beat high-flying Shelford on Saturday or the side which shipped 101 points at Bedford in the previous match?
On another weekend when Colchester fielded five senior men’s teams, the seconds beat Norwich Union 49-28, the thirds won 22-21 at Mistley and there were plucky defeats for the fourths and fifths at Clacton and Mersea respectively.
Colchester: Taylor, O’Reilly, Bodkin, Thomas, Rokomoce, Higgins, Parry; McMillan, Butler, A Mitchell, L Pickett, Easton, Kerr, Whiteman, H Pickett. Reps: J Mitchell, Rossouw, Button.
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