Colchester earn solid victory

Colchester Academy entertained close rivals Bury in a training game played as four quarter periods; the format allowing plenty of opportunities for coaching and player rotation. Colchester worked hard and had the better of possession and territory throughout the match, restricting their game opponents who only briefly threatened the home side's try line.

Colchester started with purpose and, taking advantage of an early Bury error, exerted the early pressure. Outside centre Elliott Hinton ran a great line to develop play before captain and inside centre Dan Harding rounded off some slick backline hands to open the scoring (Harding converting). The home side countered a Bury scrum on their 5m line and were unfortunate not to extend their lead when fly-half Alex Peterson received the ball and raced away from well inside his own half, only to be tackled just short in front of the posts.
End of quarter one: Colchester 7 Bury 0

Colchester's progress was frustrated by being turned over a couple of times at their own scrum and knocking-on when in good positions. However, number 8 Farouk Wingfield reacted quickest to a Bury dropped ball and released winger Laren Roper who showed good speed to race away for Colchester's second try (conversion missed). The away side, showing good spirit, continued to compete well at the breakdown and restricted further Colchester opportunities; the closest the home side coming to a further score came when an energetic run from full-back Connor Alkin was halted by effective cover tackling.
End of quarter two: Colchester 12 Bury 0

The third period was played mostly in Bury territory. Second row James Simpson showed great strength only to be held up just short, before centre Harding rounded off some solid backline work to run in (conversion missed). Further interchanging between forwards and backs released prop Troy Palmer who burst away from close range; off-loading to Alkin who dived in under the posts (try converted by Harding).
End of quarter three: Colchester 24 Bury 0

Good rucking and ball retention, and subsequent quick hands, gave Harding the opportunity to score under the posts from close range shortly after the restart (Harding converting). As the final period progressed, Bury enjoyed perhaps their best passage of play. Moving the ball well through the forwards, the away side thought they had scored only to discover the ball had been grounded over the 5m line and not the try line. Subsequent turnover ball released prop Ollie Mills who raced away showing great speed. Only a terrific cover tackle prevented the Colchester player from going all the way to the try line. A period of late Bury pressure forced Colchester to defend well to prevent the away side from registering a score.
Final score: Colchester 31 Bury 0