COLCHESTER 112

LUTON 0

London 1 North

RAMPANT Colchester overwhelmed visitors Luton to secure the best result by any team in the league so far this season, writes STEVE WHITEMAN.

The prolific Blacks ran in 18 tries - 11 of which were converted - with Ben Murphy scoring six tries, believed to be a club record.

This magnificent result at a wet and windy Mill Road keeps Colchester in contention at second place in the league.

Their success came about despite many changes in the squad from the team that had won at North Walsham the previous week, due to injuries and unavailability.

Back rower Dan Whiteman took over as captain in the absence of injured lock Liam Pickett, Ollie White and Toby Hill came up from the second team to make up the second row and David Higgins and Harry Barton returned to the fly half and left wing positions respectively.

All the backs played well with centre Ben Murphy, Francois Rossouw and Tom Dufficy sharing the roles and the back three of Dave Brennan, Damien Brambley and Barton using their pace to outstrip the Luton defence.

Towards the end of the game, Jack White came off the bench to continue the good work of number ten, Higgins.

Luton kicked off starting a one-sided game with Colchester scoring almost every few minutes.

The hosts notched up 50 points through eight first-half tries and then topped that by getting 62 points after the interval with ten more tries.

Higgins converted ten of these tries which was no mean feat, as there was a strong cross wind with White converting his own try at the end of the game.

The Blacks' pack was again dominant in the scrums, often pushing Luton back several metres.

The forwards also got their fair share of lineout ball due to accurate throwing by hooker Charlie Thorogood and fine jumping by White, Hill and Whiteman.

Consequently the backs were provided with plenty of quality ball which they used to the best of their ability, showing good pace when it was needed.

They moved the ball quickly from player to player creating gaps in the Luton defence that they exploited ruthlessly.

Scrum-half Matt Wadling was a very effective link between the forwards and the backs, though not afraid to have a go himself when necessary.

However, Colchester did concede more penalties than Luton and will try to avoid this, in future.

The only other downside was when flanker Ollie Pickett, who otherwise had a fine game, crossed the Luton try line but was deemed by the referee not to have put downward pressure on the ball and a try was not awarded.

Colchester travel to play fourth-placed Eton Manor in their next match before hosting top-of-the-table Rochford at Mill Road, on October 27 when a large crowd is expected for that crucial fixture.