COLCHESTER Rugby Club completed the double over Essex rivals Southend Saxons in London League One North, writes EDWARD MARRIAGE.

They enjoyed an unexpectedly comfortable 50-17 victory at Mill Road to re-ignite their promotion hopes.

Forwards win matches, backs decide by how much. Never has that old rugby cliche been more apt as Colchester dominated the exchanges up front, leaving a good Southend team to live off scraps.

Six of the Blacks’ eight tries came from the forwards, with front row stalwarts the Mitchell brothers deservedly named men-of-the-match.

James Mitchell scored two tries, taking his total to six in three matches, and while their combined yardage barely creeps into double figures, he is in serious danger of topping the end-of-season try-scoring charts.

Amongst the backs, centre George Liversidge again showed his class, Jona Crisp went from triple try-scorer last week to defensive rock this, and fly-half David Higgins’ kicking from hand and off the tee was on point.

The win lifts Colchester to second in the league, 20 points behind North Walsham but in the shake-up for the promotion play-off.

Colchester head coach Ben Scully said: “We prepared fantastically well and credit to the players – they put that game plan into practice. We’re extremely happy as a coaching staff and a team."

While keen to praise the young Jeffery twins, who have started regularly in the front row this season, Scully pointed to the return of the much more seasoned Mitchell brothers.

“They have been there, done that. So having them back is fantastic. It means we’ve got a brilliant platform to play off."

Led out by Oly Pickett, making his 200th appearance, Colchester were ahead in the 11th minute, James Mitchell forcing his way over from the base of a ruck.

A defensive lapse allowed Southend in for a well-taken try by full-back Fraser Marjoriabanks but Colchester re-established control midway through the half.

Another dominant scrum led to a penalty and when the ball reached Connor O’Reilly he still had plenty of work to do.

Colchester led 21-5 at the break, captain Danny Whiteman galloping over from a lineout for Colchester’s third try, all of them converted by Higgins.

The bonus point was secured early in the second half, Joe Flexman sporting a new go-faster moustache speeding down the right wing before putting in Whiteman for his second, Higgins converting.

Unwilling to let brother James take all the attention, Alex Mitchell burrowed over for Colchester’s third try in the 47th minute after yet another dominant scrum.

Lock Blue Norton forced his way over for Southend’s second try but there was to be no comeback - James Mitchell wriggling in for his second try on the hour.

Replacement Sean Bundy showed his pace, off-loading to Liversidge for Colchester’s seventh, while Harrison Pickett plucked a well-judged cross-field kick by Nick Flexman out of the air for number eight.

Higgins’ conversion brought up the half-century.

Chris Vaughan grabbed a consolation for Southend but it was not the Saxons’ day.

Next up for Colchester is a trip to bottom club Ruislip on Saturday.