Colchester tuned up for the start of the National League campaign next week with a hastily arranged final pre-season run-out at rain-soaked Wymondham.

The mix of first and second teamers proved much too strong for the sixth-tier side from Norfolk, Colchester running out 54-10 winners, but as ever with prep matches, the score was largely irrelevant.

More significantly, a number of key players gained crucial match time after last week’s friendly was cancelled after Letchworth pulled out.

“That was the most important thing,” said head coach Mike Haywood. “We had some guys who hadn’t had much game time yet.”

And with a big playing squad and unlimited substitutions, there was a chance for players to catch the boss’s eye. “I think a few guys put their hands up there. It’s going to be a tough selection this week.”

With the main event preceded by a women’s match against Southwold, and Wymondham’s popular beer festival also proving a big draw, the hosts’ highly impressive facility was full to bursting point.

The weather was the only thing which didn’t play ball. Following weeks of drought, the rain fell steadily and relentlessly, leading to some inevitable but frustrating handling errors by both sides.

Colchester ran in five tries in the first half through Connal Corcoran, Jonah Varela and a smartly taken hat trick by Archie Kean. The centre then had to be helped off with a hamstring injury just before the break, the only dampener on the day, aside from the deluge.

Further second half tries by Matt Parker, Cam Kerr and Harvey Ellis, with Henry Newman near-faultless from the tee, completed the scoring.

A horribly messy finish, not helped by multiple changes in personnel, a yellow card and uncontested scrums, led to the referee mercifully calling time five minutes early, but by then both coaches had seen enough.

“From my point of view, it was a good run out. The guys got plenty of minutes under their belts and now I’m just looking forward to getting stuck into the season next week.”

That first National 2 East match for Colchester is away to London club Barnes on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).