COLCHESTER RFC coach Danny Johnston is looking for his side to get back to winning ways.

They travel to mid-table Brentwood today for what he expects to be a tough London League divison one north challenge.

Second-placed Colchester’s slow start last week, at Eton Manor, saw them lose 26-20 and the hosts closed to one point behind them in the table.

Johnston said: “Brentwood away will be a tough challenge.

“We have had two difficult matches in a row, with Eton Manor last weekend.

“Brentwood are good club and play their pitch really well.”

The Colchester coach believes that this time of year is very important to the success of his side this season.

Johnston said: “This is the time of year that the team finds out about themselves as a group of players.

“The run up to Christmas is a very important time.

“The defeat at Eton Manor was a big lesson to our players.

“Brentwood will also pose a tough test, they beat Chingford last week, and we will have to pull out our best game to beat them.

“We have pretty much a similar team to that which we have put out all season, apart from the reintroduction of Matt Smith at outside-centre.

“We have a strong team, last week hasn’t changed that, it wasn’t a disaster.

“Last Saturday was a remainder of the competitiveness of this league and that you have to be at your best if you want to win games.”

Braintree will also be looking to get back to winning ways after a narrow seven-point defeat to Rochford last week.

They travel to early promotion chasers Saffron Walden and Braintree chairman of selectors Jeff Lewis said: “Even though we’re losing, we’re still picking up bonus points but we really need to dig deep and find another victory from somewhere to give us fresh impetus.”

In Eastern Counties League division one, Harwich and Dovercourt take on Norwich Crusaders at Low Road.

Harwich skipper Joe Francis said: “The second team have been awesome this year and their success is starting to rub of on the firsts.

“We still need to prove that we can play for 80 minutes and, if we can, Norwich could be in for a hiding.

“If we can’t, we could soon be drawn into a relegation battle.”

Division rivals Mersea Island will be playing host to Ely at Mersea Outdoors.