COLCHESTER Rugby Club continued their remarkable scoring run with a seven-try win over CS Stags, in the process bagging a try bonus point for the 12th successive match, writes EDWARD MARRIAGE.
The 47-12 victory keeps Colchester second in Regional 1 South East and ten points behind Westcombe Park, who lost their third game of the season at the weekend.
But with just one team going up and matches running out, promotion for Colchester remains a faint prospect.
“To be honest we’ve not mentioned that,” said head coach Craig Burrows. “We’re not planning on mentioning that until things get a lot tighter.
“We’re setting three-game targets and today was the first of our three, so job done.”
On a still day beside the Thames in west London, Stags made the worst possible start with a prop sent to the bin for a tip tackle in the opening exchanges.
They then conceded the first try, number 8 Dylan Read touching down from a push-over.
Corey Button, starting at outside-half in place of the injured Chris Lewis, enjoyed a near-flawless day off the tee, converting all but one of Colchester’s tries, including three from the touch line.
Stags showed flashes in attack and soon had an unconverted try of their own through full-back Jamie Christie.
But Colchester were relentless in attack. Midway through the half Jacob Bodkin was stopped just short of the line but from the following scrum, hooker Sam Butler finished off a break by Liam Pickett.
Minutes later the visitors had their third. Colchester’s front row demolished the Stags scrum, Read picked up and passed to Jimmy Mpailane who went on a typical 30-metre weaving run to the line.
Stags pulled one back as Morgan Davies scored from a line-out drive, but Colchester weren’t to be denied their bonus point, Kiwi centre Ropati Sooalo scoring on his first start for the club.
Leading 28-12 at the break, the second half was all Colchester, the visitors adding three further tries and preventing their hosts from scoring a point.
Breaking quickly from their own half, Colchester slickly went through the phases with captain Sam Easton stretching over for the fifth. James Mitchell replaced brother Alex as Button converted.
A simple but well-worked move saw Read pick up off the base of the scrum, passing to Brett Cutbush on the blind-side who released Connor O’Reilly for a run-in.
With Sai Vunivesilevu on for Cutbush - who was to return minutes later in place of Button - Stags briefly rallied but Colchester’s defence was resolute and they soon had their seventh try, Read capping an excellent performance with his second in the right corner.
Burrows added: “Our defensive set was outstanding today. I think that’s what won us the game, as well as our pack, giving us good secure ball to play off, and our backs finished off as they usually do. Very, very pleased today”.
No surprise that all four front-rowers shared the man-of-the-match bubbly.
Colchester play their final home match of the season on Saturday against fourth-placed Tring (kick-off 3pm).
On another excellent day for Colchester rugby, The Ravens beat North Walsham 58-22, scoring eight tries against the league leaders.
Colchester: Mpailane, O’Reilly, Bodkin, Sooalo, Rokomoce, Button, Cutbush; McMillan, Butler, A Mitchell, Easton (c), L Pickett, Sykes, Liversidge, Read. Reps: J Mitchell, Thomas, Vunivesilevu.
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