COLCHESTER Rugby Club endured a somewhat painful debut in the fourth tier of English rugby as they lost 53-13 on the road at Canterbury, writes EDWARD MARRIAGE.

The newly-promoted team – with seven debutants in their squad – never raised the white flag, but Canterbury’s long experience of life in the National leagues told, as the hosts ran in seven tries to Colchester’s two.

“It was a massive learning curve for us,” said head coach Craig Burrows, who remains positive about the forthcoming National League 2 East campaign.

“We just weren’t quite good enough.

“We were falling off tackles, giving away way too many pens, just making silly errors. Every chance they got given they took.

“We know what’s expected of us. We will come back. We will be better, and we will be stronger.

“Everybody is very deflated at the moment, but we have to keep our heads up and keep grafting.

“The season has only just started. We’ve got to find our rhythm and we’ll be all right.”

On a fine still day, Colchester playing down the slope, held their own in the opening exchanges.

But a penalty for a high tackle saw the hosts go ahead 3-0, influential outside-half Frank Reynolds going on to kick 18 points.

The visitors had a chance to level through a penalty in front, but sticking with last season’s policy of going for the corner, the kick was over-cooked and went dead.

Colchester suffered a sickening blow on 15 minutes as lock Alex Grey, newly signed from Pontypool and starting the game as captain, went off with a serious knee injury, a significant lay-off looking inevitable for the big man.

Minutes later prop Cameron MacMillan scored Canterbury’s first try, a penalty soon making it 13-0.

(Image: EDWARD MARRIAGE)

Colchester finally got on the board on 26 minutes through Corey Button’s penalty after the visitors’ best attack of the match so far.

But Canterbury then went through the gears with further converted tries for Aiden Moss and Garry Jones, making it 27-3 at the break.

The hosts had their bonus point two minutes into the second half, Eoin O’Donoghue touching down for the first of two tries for the hooker.

Colchester rang the changes with Francois Rossouw on for Dan Brennan and Fin Creighton replacing Corey Button.

Soon after, Jonah Varela and Leroy O’Neil came on for Faysal Olabooye and Callum Jeffery.

An interception led to the impressive Joe Brock breaking down the middle.

Danny Whiteman, who had replaced the unfortunate Grey, took it on but was hauled down just short of the line.

Happily, Mike Stanway was on hand to cross in the corner.

In a brief but encouraging purple patch for the visitors, another debutant scored Colchester’s second as O’Neil got the final touch from a line-out drive.

Canterbury wrapped things up with two further tries but Colchester weren’t giving up.

A break down the left by Creighton was recycled to Jacob Bodkin who headed for the line, only a desperate tackle denying Stanway a second try.

Colchester entertain Tonbridge Juddians in the first home game of the season at Raven Park on Saturday (3pm).

Much better news of The Ravens, who started life in Eastern Counties 1 with a thrilling 26-20 win, a late penalty try beating old rivals Newmarket.

Colchester: Olabooye, Stanway, Bodkin, Lloyd, O’Reilly, Dorasamy, Button; C Jeffery, Brennan, L Jeffery, Brock, Grey, O Pickett, Kerr, Tabuatamata. Reps: O’Neil, Rossouw, Whiteman, Creighton, Varela.