It’s a big weekend ahead for both Colchester’s first and second teams as they face crucial matches in their campaigns to gain promotion from their respective leagues.
The first team travel to Tring for the first of three challenging games to end the year. While Colchester have a 13-point lead at the top of Regional 1 South East as the season reaches the mid-point, no-one is remotely taking anything for granted with just one team promoted from our league this season.
Tring are sixth in the league with five wins from 10 matches. But they are unbeaten at their evocatively named Cow Lane home this season and they did the double over Colchester last season, winning 23-20 at home and 34-38 at Raven Park in February, Colchester’s last home reverse.
Colchester will hope the two-week break from playing has meant a bit more recovery time for some of their battered and bruised players, but it is at this time of the season that their big squad really comes into its own.
Supporters should note that kick-off is at the earlier time of 2pm on Saturday. The post-code for Tring’s ground is HP23 5NS.
The Ravens have arguably an even bigger match on Saturday as they play promotion rivals Newmarket at Raven Park (kick-off 2pm).
The Ravens are eight points clear at the top of the Counties 2 league table, but third-placed Newmarket have a game in hand. Significantly, Newmarket lost at home by a single point to second-placed Woodbridge last time out, so things could hardly be tighter at the top of the table.
A win for The Ravens would put them in a great position, and anyone not planning to travel to Tring would be welcome to come along and give them your loudest support.
It’s a busy day at Raven Park on Saturday as the third and fourth teams also play at home. The As entertain Brightlingsea (kick-off 2pm) while The Cavaliers host Woodbridge 2s (kick-off 2pm).