COLCHESTER delivered a pre-Christmas cracker of a win to move top of the London League division one north table with a 53-10 bonus point victory against a competitive Ruislip side, leaping over Eton Manor who lost away to Letchworth.

More than 50 points have been scored in six of Colchester’s 11 consecutive victories while the club’s second, third and fourth teams all lead their respective leagues in what is proving to be the club’s most successful season.

Last season Ruislip beat Colchester home and away and the west London visitors were keen to play attacking rugby with ball in hand, their quick backline well served by forwards who retained ball well.

Ruislip initially made headway as the Colchester pack fumbled the kick off and took play to their hosts’ 22.

The Colchester forwards drove their opponents off the ball from the first scrum, repeating this feat until injuries to Ruislip’s front row forwards forced uncontested scrums in the last ten minutes.

Winning turnover ball, the Colchester pack unleashed their backs, centre Joe Flexman created a gap to speed upfield and link with full-back Brett Cutbush who closed to the Ruislip line.

The forwards recycled ball until lock Graeme Hay powered his way over for the opening try on three minutes.

Colchester pressure saw wing Damien Brambley force Ruislip to concede a five-metre line-out. Hay’s take preceded number eight James McRae’s dive to place the ball on the line for a try.

Ruislip gamely ran the ball at Colchester who absorbed attacks until turning over ball and counter attacking.

Prop Joe McMillan set a midfield platform, fly-half David Higgins’ chip was chased down by skipper Calum Irvine for a try and Higgins added the conversion.

Over-confidence proved Colchester’s undoing as a loose pass was intercepted by Ruislip fly-half Alex Fieldhouse to run in an opportunist try. Stuart Pearman added the conversion.

Ruislip continued to press, forcing a string of penalties that culminated with Pearman kicking another three points.

Colchester responded immediately; a tackle dislodged the ball that was hacked forward by wing James Crozier, who won the race to score the fourth bonus point try for a 22-10 half-time lead.

Keeping up the pressure, Colchester drove Ruislip’s scrum into reverse near their line where flanker Ollie Pickett pounced on a loose ball for a try.

Flanker Ollie White made a 20-metre break before Ruislip prop Charlie Doyle was sin-binned for preventing quick release.

Colchester opted for a scrum, prop James Mitchell rumbled to the line before lock Liam Pickett joined his brother on the scoresheet with a close-range try.

Colchester’s next try was the best of a good day. Ruislip’s restart kick was taken by White, scrum-half Gregor Irvine quickly released Higgins who drew defenders before unloading a long pass to Calum Irvine running at speed.

He bisected Ruislip’s defence before releasing James Crozier who led chasing defenders to race in under the posts.

Following multi-phase Colchester forward drives, wing Dave Brennan marked his return from injury with a try.

Higgins added his fourth conversion of the day.

With minutes remaining, Colchester flanker Harry Gozzett was yellow-carded for a late tackle.

Ruislip tried to exploit their player advantage, rumbling from their own to their opponent’s 22 but the ball was spilled in a tackle.

Calum Irvine reacted quickly, running three quarters of the length of the field to score with the final act of the game to take Colchester above the half century points tally.