SOUTH WOODHAM FERRERS 7

COLCHESTER 76

London One North

by STEVE WHITEMAN

COLCHESTER moved up to third place in the league after an emphatic victory over bottom-placed South Woodham Ferrers.

The Blacks scored 11 tries to the hosts' one and kicker James Crozier was in good form, converting nine of the 11 tries, one of which he scored himself.

As both flanker Danny Whiteman and lock Eli Castle were unavailable, Harrison Pickett joined his two brothers in the pack and Rory Miller made a welcome return in the second row.

Colchester kicked off and soon won a penalty when a Woodham player deliberately knocked the ball on.

Crozier converted, putting three points on the board after only ten minutes.

Soon after, Ollie Pickett ran through the home defence to claim his first try.

And not long after that, Colchester won another lineout and Pickett attacked again, offloading to centre George Liversidge who claimed the Blacks’ second try to make it 17-0 with 25 minutes gone.

Colchester’s scrum were dominating the set pieces and when the referee awarded them a penalty after a typical surge forward lock, Joe Colcomb piled over the line to bring the lead to 24-0.

There was a further setback for Woodham when they had a player yellow carded for deliberate obstruction.

Later their fullback made a mark upon catching Wadling’s box kick but Colchester gained possession and fullback Brett Cutbush linked well with flanker Rob Pickard, who fed Hartley who raced in for his first try.

Just before half-time he scored again, having received a fine pass by fly half Jack White.

Colchester were in the lead by 38 unanswered points at the interval and coach Anthony O’Riordan rang the changes. Skipper Liam Pickett, centre Will Brown and Hartley were replaced by Rory Miller, Joe Flexman and Charlie Thorogood off the bench.

Woodham restarted and soon Ollie Pickett’s direct running paid off as he claimed his hat-trick.

Colchester were on a roll now and before long, Flexman offloaded a superb mid-tackle pass to wing Shelford Meads who did a delightful, mazy run through the defence to score under the posts.

Shortly after fleet-footed Crozier put Wadling over for his first try to extend Colchester's lead to 57 points.

Then a lapse of concentration let Woodham’s left wing in for a breakaway try which was converted, giving the hosts seven points.

Back came Colchester, galvanised by this setback, pressing towards Woodham’s line.

The defence were awarded a scrum but flanker Harrison Pickett tackled their number nine and Wadling seized the ball to score his second try bringing the score to 62-7.

Colchester added two more tries through Crozier after Miller's strong run and then Ollie Pickett, who claimed his third just before the end.