COLCHESTER Rugby Club are still seeking their first National League 2 win after losing 36-22 at Bury St Edmunds, writes EDWARD MARRIAGE.
But as so often this season, there were positives for Colchester, who scored three tries and were pushing for a bonus point in the final minutes, having had the best of the fourth quarter.
Colchester’s defence and discipline were much improved, but once again there were too many missed chances, while the slightest mistake was ruthlessly punished by a side with much greater level four rugby nous.
With no fewer than nine former Bury players in the Colchester starting XV, together with coaches Craig Burrows and Brad James who once plied their trade at the club, it was no surprise that there was plenty of banter throughout, not least amongst the sizeable crowd.
Colchester enjoyed territorial advantage in the opening exchanges, but it was the hosts who scored first, patient recycling resulted in blindside Henri Levin crossing and Bury had their second minutes later as scrum-half Will Metcalfe latched on to a chip.
A period of pressure from Colchester concluded with Corey Button’s penalty, but with Bury laying siege to the visitors’ line, only stout defence kept them at bay, Charlie Friend and Oli Pickett to the fore.
Leading 12-3, Bury scored twice early in the second half, Metcalfe with his second as he sniped over from the base of a scrum, then Will Affleck secured the bonus point, running on to a chip over the Colchester defensive line.
Colchester rang the changes with debutant Scott Turner coming on for Callum Jeffery, while Cam Kerr and Joe Colcomb replaced Oli Pickett and Dan Lewis.
Colchester got a kickable penalty but opted to go for the corner. From the resulting line-out drive, Colcomb crossed for the visitors’ first try.
More changes followed: Leroy O’Neil replaced Lewis Jeffery while Pickett returned in place of Friend.
Both teams then squandered chances through needless penalties.
Colchester were down to 14 just after the hour as Danny Whiteman saw yellow for collapsing a maul.
Despite their reduced numbers, and with Ed Parry on for scrum-half Fin Creighton, Colchester soon had their second, Corey Button’s miss-pass freeing Jacob Bodkin to score against his former club. Button converted from wide out.
Frustratingly Bury responded direct from the restart through Samir Kharbouch’s try but Colchester weren’t giving up.
A long pass found Francois Rossouw on the wing, and he pounced for his third try of the season, Button’s conversion making it 31-22.
Colchester pushed for what would have been a crucial bonus point, repeatedly recycling until a stray pass was intercepted, Bury going the length and wrapping things up through wing Euan Rees.
“I don’t think the scoreline reflected the game,” said head coach Craig Burrows.
“I’m proud of the boys. Discipline was a lot better but we still gave away a few too many penalties.
“The fight in the boys can never be questioned. I’ve said to them ‘keep your heads up, we’re working, we’re building, and the win will come."
Oli Pickett took the coaches’ player-of-the-match award, sponsored by the Lexden Crown, for a tireless performance, tackling everything that moved.
Colchester are back at Raven Park this weekend to play Henley Hawks (kick-off 3pm).
Colchester: Varela, Stanway, Bodkin, Lloyd, Taylor, Button, Creighton; C Jeffery, Rossouw, L Jeffery, Lewis, Friend, O Pickett, Whiteman, Tabuatamata. Reps: Turner, Colcomb, O’Neil, Kerr, Parry.
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