COLCHESTER Rugby Club lost out 31-27 to unbeaten league leaders Westcombe Park in a fabulous game of rugby, writes STEVE WHITEMAN.
The lead changed hands several times during a pulsating game, exciting the large crowd of spectators.
Colchester fielded a strong team, retaining man of the match Dylan Read at No 8 and boosted by the Mitchell brothers at prop, with Alex getting the coach’s award.
The forwards dominated the scrums and the backs often outpaced their opponents.
Referee Becky Piddlecon got proceedings underway and after several Combe lineouts she awarded them a penalty which led to a score in the corner, fly-half Matt Harrison adding the extras.
Moments later the Combe hooker threw a long lineout throw which, flanker Danny Whiteman caught and sped about 50 metres to score in the corner.
This action seemed to galvanise the Blacks, knowing they were ‘in it to win it’.
Indeed after the restart No 8 Dylan Read got the ball and sprinted from half way to score a copy cat try, five minutes later.
Unfortunately Chris Lewis’s kick for goal was charged down, making it 10-7.
Now it was Combe’s turn to exert pressure and a catch and drive from their lineout at the Blacks end of the pitch resulted in prop Aaron Cooper touching down with Harrison converting, making it 14-10 at the interval.
Colchester coach Craig Burrows only made one team change at half-time, with prop James Mitchell making way for Joe McMillan.
Ten minutes into the second half a good thrust by lock Graeme Hay put the Blacks on their front feet; Read made ground before passing to Whiteman who touched down for his second try.
The crowd went wild as Colchester were back in the lead, 15-14.
Soon scrum half Sai Vunivesilva put icing on the cake by scoring again with fly-half Corey Button converting, giving Blacks a league bonus point after scoring four tries.
But once again Combe came back and after some quick passing scored again to make it 22-21 and injured Whiteman made way for George Liversidge.
Before long the Blacks were once again in Combe’s red zone where they were awarded a scrum.
After a tremendous shove, the ball was moved left for Rokomoce to claim his second try and make it 27-21.
Fullback Jimmy Mpailane sustained an injury, the backs were shuffled around and scrum half Ed Parry joined the fray.
With the clock running down, a fantastic Blacks win was looking to be likely but unfortunately it wasn’t to be.
Pressure from Combe led to a good try in the left corner, clinching them victory.
Colchester were gutted but what a brilliant performance to gain two bonus points against the league leaders.
Coach Burrows stated afterwards that it was a good performance with lots of positives and although he was disappointed to lose, he was looking forward to the rest of the season.
In other games, the A XV won 29-24 versus Brightlingsea and the Roundheads lost at Aldburgh and Thorpeness.
Colchester squad: Mitchell J, Butler, Mitchell A, Easton (C), Hay, Kerr, Whiteman, Read, Vunivesilevu, Button, Taylor, Lewis, O’Reilly, Rokomoce, Mpailane. Subs: McMillan, Liversidge, Parry.
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