COLCHESTER triumphed 35-8 in the London League division one north top of the table clash with Chingford with their 24th consecutive win to stay top of the league.

Colchester have scored more than 1,200 points and are the highest scoring team in English rugby this season, the club’s success at all levels of the game earning them the prestigious Team of the Month title in Rugby World for February.

Chingford have played their way into third place in the league with a well organised defence, competitive forwards and attacking back play.

Anxious to win, Colchester could have scored more but for poor passing and fumbled knock-ons.

Over eagerness led to repeated penalties in the first quarter, conceding possession and position until skipper Calum Irvine rallied his team to focus their intensity and reduce errors.

Colchester’s forwards responded by dominating scrums and making the most yards in tight play, the backs having the edge for pace and finishing.

Chingford took the lead with a fourth minute penalty from David Duffus after a series of offside penalties against Colchester.

Ignoring warnings from the referee, flankers Ollie Pickett and Danny Whiteman were sin-binned within minutes of each other, reducing Colchester to 13 players.

While two players down, Colchester decided attack was the best form of defence.

Number eight James McRae burst through the Chingford midfield, scrum-half Matt Wadling squeezing ahead before linking with prop James Mitchell in close support to race in Colchester’s first try to take the lead.

Colchester exerted pressure and Chingford now conceded penalties to prevent their hosts from adding to their score, repeated offsides resulting in a yellow card for Duffus.

Restored to 15, Colchester exploited their player advantage through forward rumbles led by lock Graeme Hay, Ollie Pickett and McRae drawing in defenders before the ball was moved wide where centre Matt Smith raced through a gap to touchdown under the posts.

Colchester were penalised for a high tackle but Chingford failed to take the restart kick properly and conceded a scrum.

The Colchester pack provided a solid platform from where the ball was whisked along the line for wing James Crozier to score wide left.

Fly-half David Higgins added a touchline conversion to end the half 21-3 in front.

Returning to the attack, Colchester skipper Irvine and Whiteman closed to Chingford’s try-line but a knock-on gave the visitors a scrum five metres out.

The Colchester front row of Mitchell, Joe MacMillan and Charlie Thorogood out-scrummed their Chingford opponents, locks Hay and Liam Pickett pushed the visitors’ back to their own line where the scrum collapsed, giving the referee no option but to award Colchester a penalty fourth try and bonus point.

Injuries to Chingford front row players forced uncontested scrums for the final quarter, denying Colchester an advantage.

From unmoving scrums Chingford built through several phases until wing Freddie Foxley rounded off a team move with an unconverted try.

Colchester responded with breaks by Whiteman and Wadling taking play close to Chingford’s tryline where Hay dived over for Colchester’s fifth try.

Higgins maintained his 100 per cent conversion rate to make the final score 35-8.

The stage is now set for Colchester’s final game of the season away to second-placed Eton Manor on Saturday in the league champion decider that will see the winner promoted. The loser will have to play-off against the second-placed side from London League division one south for the other promotion place.