Chelmsford defeat Colts in high scoring game

Many thanks to Chelmsford Colts for travelling to Colchester at short notice to play this friendly fixture and also to referee Steve Goodridge who stepped in at the last minute after a very late call-off by the original official.

Colchester got off to a very disappointing start, conceding a score after 5 minutes (0-7). Missed tackles and two failed restarts allowed Chelmsford to enjoy almost complete ball possession in the early stages and the score was extended to 0-19 very quickly. When the home side finally got their hands on the ball, they kept it well and interchanged positively between forward and backline play. Retaining possession well, an opportunity was created for winger Joe Boone to score in the corner (5-19). Colchester could have (and perhaps should have) reduced the arrears again a few moments later but a forward pass along the Chelmsford try line lost the opportunity. Shortly afterwards, a breakaway Chelmsford try from halfway extended the lead (5-26), before the impressive Alex Slater took advantage of Chelmsford uncertainty to run in for Colchester's second try just on half time (12-26).
Half time: Colchester 12 Chelmsford 26

Any hopes of a major Colchester recovery in the second half were extinguished as Chelmsford scored a further two scores fairly quickly; the first by the winger in the corner and the second after two Colchester missed tackles gave an easy opportunity to extend the lead further (12-38). To their credit, the home side kept battling away and hooker John Lynch dived in after some direct forward play (17-38). A further Chelmsford score in the corner (17-43) was followed soon afterwards by Boone's second score (24-43) under the posts after the home forwards created the opportunity. As the game entered the final stages, there was still time for another Chelmsford score (24-50) before the final word was had by Colchester centre Jonah Varela right on full time (29-50).
Full time: Colchester 29 Chelmsford 50