COLCHESTER Rugby Club's promotion hopes were dented after they lost 34-19 at Thurrock in London 1 North, writes STEVE WHITEMAN.

The hosts proved to be much tougher opposition than the Blacks were expecting and in a hard, physical match, the visitors lost by five tries to three and came away with no league points.

To their credit Thurrock took an early lead and kept in front for the entire game.

The hosts attacked and defended well throughout most of the match whereas the Blacks struggled to maintain any consistency in their play.

There were a few changes to Colchester's successful squad of previous weeks.

Charlie Thorogood, Matt Parker and Jack Buxton came in for hooker Sam Butler, winger Conor O’Reilly and prop Alex Mitchell.

Sam Easton, back from injury, joined Alex Gerard and Harvey Skinner on the bench.

The game took place in cold and breezy weather conditions on Thurrock's exposed second pitch, as the referee decided that their main pitch was too waterlogged for safe play.

Thurrock kicked off with the wind advantage and there ensued a battle for supremacy, as the teams locked horns.

The impasse was broken after 20 minutes when the referee awarded the hosts a penalty after a Blacks infringement at a lineout.

The Thurrock fullback put the ball between the posts to give them a three-point lead.

Five minutes later the hosts attacked down the right to score a converted try, extending their lead to 10-0.

Later both sides were down to 14 men on the pitch when a flare up in the forwards led to Charlie Thorogood and his Thurrock assailant both being yellow-carded.

Thurrock then attacked Colchester’s line and, following a period of good inter-passing by their backs, scored another converted try taking their lead to 17-0.

Colchester raised their game at this point with Joe Flexman’s high kick off being palmed down by rapidly advancing Haydn Sykes into the arms of Matt Parker.

Parker sprinted through the defence for a quick try which fly-half Harry Bureau converted, to get the visitors on the scoreboard.

However Thurrock soon replied with a try of their own at the other end, bringing the half-time score to 22-7.

After the interval Skinner and Easton came on for Parker and Rory Miller and the game restarted.

But the expected second-half revival with the wind advantage did not happen for some time and Thurrock went on to score two further tries to gain a bonus point and a 27-point lead.

Colchester captain Dan Whiteman and vice-captain Alex Burman, who had both been rested, came back on the field.

And the last quarter of the match saw the visitors show their best form of the game.

Better passing resulted in the ball reaching wing Flexman, who ran through the opposition from halfway to score a fine try.

Moments later Alex Gerard had a similar sortie into Thurrock’s red zone to score Colchester’s third try.

But it was all too little too late and at full-time, Thurrock celebrated their home victory.

Colchester: Joe McMillan, Charlie Thorogood, Jack Buxton, Alex Burman, Rory Miller, Haydn Sykes, Dan Whiteman, Harrison Pickett, David Tonge, Harry Bureau, Matt Parker, Brett Cutbush, Adam Thomas, Joe Flexman, Jonah Varela, Alex Gerard, Sam Easton, Harvey Skinner.