A PENALTY deep in added time denied Colchester victory in a seven-try thriller at Harpenden, writes EDWARD MARRIAGE.

But with one match of the season to go, the Blacks can still secure runners-up spot in the league.

However heart-breaking the finish, Colchester bagged two vital bonus points in the 25-24 defeat and can take encouragement from their fine second-half performance, especially following the heavy defeat at Westcombe Park.

It continued a remarkable sequence of close results between the sides following the 24-24 draw at Raven Park, on the first day of the season.

Not for the first time Colchester were slow out of the blocks and trailed 10-0 to Tom Sweeney’s penalty and Brendan Venter’s converted try inside ten minutes.

But with the Mitchell brothers returning in the front row, Colchester’s scrum was on top throughout.

Gazette:

From one such set-piece near the Harpenden line the pack made mincemeat of the hosts’ forwards and wing Joe Flexman scooted in on the blindside.

Corey Button narrowly missed the tricky conversion and Harpenden soon had their second through lock Sam Sturley, making it 17-5 at the break.

Colchester had the better of the second half, but the referee was reluctant to award them penalties at the scrum, despite the continuing dominance of the forwards.

Appropriately tighthead James Mitchell scored the first of two typical close-range tries to make it 17-10, and with Joe McMillan on for Alex Mitchell Colchester thought they had a third when captain Sam Easton touched down under the posts.

But the referee, to the bafflement of the Colchester players, awarded Harpenden a penalty, ruling that Easton had been part of the ruck and shouldn’t have picked up the ball.

Gazette:

To compound things, full-back Jimmy Mpailane was binned for a trip and hooker Peter Sims touched down for Harpenden’s third.

James Mitchell’s second try made it 22-17 going into the final quarter, and with Alex Mitchell returning in place of his brother, and Harpenden suddenly conceding penalties, Colchester sniffed an opportunity.

From one such penalty, Colchester kicked to the corner and Easton scored from the line-out drive. Button converted and the visitors were 24-22 up.

But agonisingly, the referee penalised Colchester for not releasing and Sweeney stepped up to kick the winning points.

The two bonus points, together with Shelford’s defeat to Tunbridge Wells, means Colchester will finish second if they win at Hertford in Saturday’s rearranged game.

Gazette:

Colchester head coach Craig Burrows felt the team is moving on to the last league game on a positive note, but was left to rue some close calls.

He said: “I think we should have been rewarded a few more times and that could have changed the game.

“There were a few harsh calls on the try-line, giving pens against us saying our players are part of the ruck when they’re not, just little things that we’re not getting and that’s tough.

“Some you win some you lose, but we’re in a good place.”

Adam Thomas and Sam Butler were jointly named coach’s men-of-the-match.

The Ravens completed their league season with a 48-38 defeat at home to Woodbridge.

Colchester: Mpailane, Liversidge, Bodkin, Thomas, Flexman, Button, Cutbush; J Mitchell, Butler, A Mitchell, Easton (c), Miller, Gerard, Kerr, Read. Reps: McMillan, Parry, Sooalo.