A TRY by wing Connor O’Reilly deep into added time gave Colchester Rugby Club a scarcely-deserved victory on an afternoon when they were largely second-best to the league’s bottom club Medway, writes EDWARD MARRIAGE.

This 22-19 victory was the definition of winning ugly. The Blacks were as poor as they were outstanding last week at Shelford, the visitors from Kent dominating for long periods.

However, Colchester head coach Craig Burrows dismissed any notion of complacency after the last match.

He said: “Medway did a great job at pulling us into their game plan. The boys basically got outplayed throughout the game.”

But a win is a win, and with results elsewhere going their way, Colchester moved seven points clear in second place in the league as the season approaches the business end.

On a breezy but initially dry day, Medway caught the hosts napping inside two minutes, Alfie Orris’s try under the posts converted by Owen Church-Mills.

Colchester were quickly level, Sam Butler finishing off a good break by Corey Button with Chris Lewis converting.

Despite being reduced to 14 men, a defensive lapse allowed Medway to re-take the lead through Mohammad Pangarker’s converted try.

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Liam Pickett, who had led the team out to mark his 200th appearance, celebrated the milestone with Colchester’s second try on 20 minutes from a maul, the try going unconverted meaning Medway turned round 14-12 up.

After the break things went from bad to worse for Colchester.

First Ross Taylor went off with a serious-looking knee injury to be replaced by Sai Vunivesilevu, then Medway increased their lead through Ben Dance’s unconverted try.

Liam Pickett made way for Tahi Poasa but the double-century man was quickly back on as Dan Whiteman injured his shoulder after making a typical surging break for the line.

With Jimmy Mpailane seeing yellow for not releasing and Harrison Pickett off with a head knock, things suddenly looked desperate for Colchester.

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But the Blacks have steel in their DNA this season and however poor they had been up to this point they suddenly found some momentum.

A fine midfield break led to O’Reilly going over in the corner for their third try. Lewis missed the conversion and Medway’s lead was just 17-19.

Minutes later Colchester won a penalty but instead of going for the posts which could have put them ahead they opted for a tap move which came to nothing.

As the clock ticked towards 95 minutes, Medway were awarded a scrum inside their own 22.

With the Colchester front row rampant, the Medway pack crumbled and the ball went left to O’Reilly who scampered over for the winner, and yet another try bonus point.

“We were outplayed today,” admitted Burrows. “For us to come back, to execute and score tries where needed, that shows character.”

Liam Pickett won the man-of-the-match award from sponsors Reflex-18, while Chris Lewis picked up the coach’s gong.

Next up for Colchester is a trip to second-bottom Hertford on Saturday.

Elsewhere, The Ravens continued their good run, winning 28-7 at Norwich Union, the A XV beat Mistley 32-19, the fourths drew 7-7 with Mersea and the fifths lost 23-21 to Clacton.

Colchester: Mpailane, O’Reilly, Bodkin, Thomas, Taylor, Lewis, Button; McMillan, Butler, J Mitchell, L Pickett, Easton (c), Kerr, Whiteman, H Pickett. Reps: A Mitchell, Vunivesilevu, Poasa.