Saturday saw the Ravens at Mill Road for the second time this season, hosting Tring’s second tier on another perfect day for running rugby. After the last few games there was intent from Colchester to start well; and start well they did. Shortly after taking the kick off, the first scrum went to the Ravens who although losing the put-in to Tring, managed to turn the tables on defence. From a loose Tring attack Captain Paul Summerson gathered a bobbled ball and outpaced the retreating Tring defenders to run in 60 metres unopposed and score the game’s first try after only 2 minutes. Fullback Jon Perry opened his account with the conversion, the score 7-0 to Colchester. After some difficult times at the restart in previous matches, the second kick off was taken cleanly and the Ravens set into their work with some healthy phases before an unfortunate knock on gave Tring a put in on the 40 metre line in Colchester Territory. From this set piece, Tring attacked the left hand edge and although Colchester’s defence was solid, the visitors managed to eventually slip through for a try. With a successful conversion the scores were even at 7-7. From the restart Tring gathered but with Colchester flooding forward the visitors conceded a penalty and Perry nudged the ball for a lineout into the 22. On attack the Raven’s lost the ball and a scrum was set to Tring, who exited up the pitch. From the line out Tring managed to regather the ball but the sting in the Ravens defence brought a penalty to the home team. Colchester tapped and went, drawing another penalty after catching Tring napping for not being back 10 metres. With the lineout option being taken the kick didn’t find the touchline and Tring countered up field, only to run into a wall of defence and cough the ball up on halfway for another scum to Colchester. On attack the Ravens continuity was working well with the loose forwards and inside backs linking up for many phases, until a penalty was drawn by the defence. With Tring’s big pack they backed their set piece and from the lineout another penalty was given, which then set a lineout on the 5 metre line. Tring’s game plan was to maul, and from their first drive Colchester countered well, holding them up over the line. From the scrum Tring attacked the line again and it took multiple phases against another decent defensive effort to break though and score. 7-14 to Tring after 20 minutes. With the Ravens going deep at the kick off, Tring’s rangy number eight brought it back into contact and reset for them to offer it up wide to their backs. However more defensive steel gave Tring no option other to punt it down field and Colchester was back on attack. Last week’s Full back Ed Parry was now at Fly half for the Ravens and with Colchester on the front foot he sliced through the defensive line for a mazy 30 meter jaunt before being brought down. With the handling letting Colchester down, another scrum was offered up to Tring who again kicked through to put Perry under pressure in his own 22. But with his handy left peg, Perry boomed the ball back 50 metres to give Tring a lineout in their own half. From the resulting attack, Colchester’s defence turned Tring over and as the play went to the right hand side, centre Will Stanhope busted the first tackle and offloaded to winger Jack O’Sullivan who angled in to score Colchester’s second try. Perry again converted to put the Ravens back on terms at 14-14. With the half ticking past 30 minutes, Colchester’s regathered the restart and attacked again, the exit play from Perry’s boot looking good until a penalty was given to Tring. With their maul effective throughout the match Tring reverted to type from 5 metres out and although Colchester’s managed to manfully resist three attempts at their line, the visitors eventually ploughed through to take the score to 14-19. With only a handful of minutes left in the second quarter, Colchester went short at the restart and Lock Ollie White gave the Ravens the opportunity to retake possession, which eventually resulted in a penalty against Tring. From 40 metres out, Parry nudged the lineout to the 5 to give Colchester one last chance of the half to get some points. With a vastly improved lineout Colchester regathered, but from the peel around knocked it on which Tring gratefully accepted and ended the half five points to the better.

At the break, out of respect to Thurston RFC player Josh Gilbert who passed away last weekend, both teams went to pitch 1 to join the 1st XV and 3rd XV (and their opponents) for a minute’s applause at the request of his family. The core values of Rugby Union are what make this game so special, and it was brilliant to see everyone lay down arms and join together for this offering to his memory.

At the resumption of the game, Tring managed to gather the restart and from a well worked exit play, the punt found grass and dribbled into touch in Colchester’s half. The Ravens lineout was functioning well with main Jumpers Pat Murphy and Rory Miller consistently finding Tom Jepson’s throws. From the attack Colchester made good metres with number eight Andy Goodbourn prominent in taking the ball to the line, eventually bringing about a penalty which was sent into Tring’s 22. Winning the throw again, Colchester put on another string of quality phases with only a last ditch ball-and-all tackle on Prop Troy Palmer stopping the overlap on the left hand side. As the play swept back right a mistake allowed Tring to intercept and race down field. However with the Tring player slowing to negotiate Fullback Perry, Summerson caught him unawares and from the tackle both went down hard; Summerson joining Palmer on the side lines after both taking heavy knocks. The scrum set just inside Tring’s half and from the resulting attack the visitor went 30 metres into Colchester’s red-zone. The Ravens scrambled well and from some stout defending forced the knock on, only to then lose the ball from the set piece which Tring scored from, converting their forth try to take the score to 14-26. From the restart Colchester conceded a penalty, and out of mark of respect to the Ravens defence to this point, Tring decided to kick for goal, successfully knocking it over for a 14-29 lead. As the third quarter of the match was drawing to an end, the energy of the home side started to wane against a physical Tring side; another bout of unfortunate injuries having forced three of the starters to the side line. However Colchester were still putting in the work and looking good on attack until a knock on set another scrum to Tring who managed to find the outside channel and with support on their shoulder, run in to score their fifth try of the game. The ensuing minutes echoed this pattern with Tring forcing another turnover and out flanking the cover defence to dot down again, the score now 14-43 to the visitors. As in previous weeks, the Raven’s then suddenly found another couple of gears in the last part of the match; after winning back the ball, the tireless Goodbourn, Lock Kieran Payne and Centre Joe Flexman combined to stretch the Tring defence, with a scrum finally being set deep in the Tring half. As they had done all day, the Ravens continuity on attack allowed some good phases to develop and from a damaging running line, Hooker Tom Jepson scythed through the tackle to crash over on the left hand side to score Colchester’s third. The short restart saw Colchester regather and with their tails now up, piled on the pressure again. Two consecutive penalties marched the Ravens up field; unfortunately a knock-on stunted the home team’s attack and Tring took the ball back into the Colchester half. It was at this point where Tring attacked the Colchester Line and when a score was imminent, a last gasp tackle dislodged the ball into the arms of Perry on his own try line. Shaping to kick, the Fullback changed his mind when he saw forwards in front of him and he galloped down the pitch through a host of startled Tring defenders. After an absolute magic run of play, Colchester rolled down into the Tring 22 and from some quick ball on the right hand side, Aussie Scrum Half (playing on the wing) Will Chapman scored Colchester’s fourth to secure a bonus point for the home side. The conversion was again missed and the score sat at 24-43 with only a cluster of minutes remaining. Tring gathered at the restart, but Colchester repelled the onslaught and after winning back the ball, attacked the left hand side. Another handling error handed the possession back to Tring, and from the scrum they cut through the defence and from an 80 metres managed to end the match with one last converted try. The final score 24-50 to the visitors.