COLCHESTER racked up 1,007 points so far this season as they continued their quest for promotion at Old Priorians.

Their London League division one north 64-20 victory by ten tries to three over a game Old Priorians side, keeps them top of the table and two points ahead of promotion rivals Eton Manor with four fixtures left in an exciting climax to the season.

Wing Damien Brambley joined a strong squad and showed his array of skills when he came off the bench for the second half.

Playing against the wind and sun in the first half, Colchester took a while to adapt to the conditions and, after 15 minutes, Old Priorians took the lead when their talented right wing converted a penalty.

This slight setback seemed to galvanise the visitors and, from the restart, they attacked the opposition, working their way up the pitch through the boot of fly-half David Higgins.

Centres Calum Irvine and Matt Smith probed the defence and eventually Colchester earned a line-out just inside the Old Priorians half.

Liam Pickett leapt up to claim the ball and the pack rumbled all the way to the try-line for hooker Charlie Thorogood to claim the visitors’ first try.

Higgins converted giving Colchester a lead that they would not relinquish for the rest of the game.

With the ball being moved quickly along the back line by both sides it was not long before both left wings claimed tries, James Crozier for Colchester and Oddi for Old Priorians.

The decisive period of the game came just before half-time when the hosts lost two players in quick succession to yellow cards for a scrum infringement and a high tackle.

With the opposition down to 13 men Colchester seized the initiative to score three quick tries through number eight Ollie Pickett, Crozier and his opposite wing, Joe Flexman, who showed great pace to outstrip flailing defenders to score under the posts.

Colchester now had a commanding 31-10 lead at half-time.

At the interval hard-working flanker Danny Whiteman was replaced by Harry Gozzett and Brambley took Joe Flexman’s place.

With the elements now in their favour Colchester upped their game with their forwards dominated the scrums and line-outs, giving their backs a plentiful supply of ball.

Following a superb tackle by centre Smith on his opposite number Colchester gained possession for Gozzett to run in a quick try.

Not long after Thorogood linked with Gozzett to send full-back Brett Cutbush in for another.

Old Priorians tried to rally from the restart and their scrum-half Will Clarke kicked high into the Colchester half but the ball was well fielded by Brambley, who weaved back through the home defence to put lock Graeme Hay in for another score.

Many teams would have crumbled at this onslaught but the hosts showed great character by working their way back up the pitch and moving the ball left for Oddi to claim his second try.

Skipper Irvine rallied his troops and Colchester raised their game once more with his fellow centre Smith finishing off two excellent moves to cap a fine performance with a brace of tries.

A late rally by Old Priorians and a third try for Oddi finished the game with the score at 20-64, earning Colchester a bonus point win