Newly promoted Colchester took on mid-table Tring at Raven Park in windy
weather which switched from sunshine in the first half, to showers including a
hailstorm in the second half.
Despite the unpredictable weather the two teams played a fine match strongly
contested from start to finish with the Blacks finally running out victorious by 9
tries to 6.
Colchester kicked off and it wasn’t long before the visitors earned a penalty on
the hosts’ 10 metre line which their scrum half failed to convert. Back came
Colchester and the ball was moved to centre Dylan Read who jinked through the
defence to score an unconverted try. From the restart Tring attacked and were
awarded a scrum which Colchester overturned, moved the ball to wing Connor
O’Reilly who used his pace to speed up the pitch and touch down a converted try
under the posts.
Tring soon replied with 2 successful penlaties making the score 10-6. There
followed a period of intense competition with scrums evenly matched but the
Blacks, having the upper hand in the line-outs with N.8 Danny Whiteman linking
well with jumpers Sam Easton and Matt Edison. From a successful catch and
drive line-out the forwards led by captain James Mitchell drove over the Tring line
for Whiteman to score.
On the half hour mark Colchester again attacked and a good kick from O’Reilly
was quickly followed up by scrum half Cory Button who scored a converted try
making the score 24-6. Undeterred by this setback Tring attacked from the restart
and, with great running by their left wing running around the defence got their first
converted try.
Later Tring pressed forward again and were awarded a scrum only 5 metres out
from the hosts’ posts. From the ensuing melee the Blacks turned over
possession, got the ball to fullback Jimmy Mpailane who sprinted the length of
the pitch to score a fine converted try. To add to this Jimmy had a hand in
Colchester’s next try when he caught the Tring kick off, used his speed to cut
through the defence and offloaded to O’Reilly, who ran round the defence to
score again.
Just before half time Tring thrust forward via their left wing, who fed their inside
centre who touched down to make the halftime score 36-18.
During the second half Colchester received no less than 3 yellow cards due to
infringements by Joe MacMillan, Jayden Boshoff and James Mitchell but it didn’t
stop the Blacks from scoring a further 3 tries by Button, Mpailane and Edison
whilst Tring got 3 of their own making the final score of this exciting game 57-39.
Sponsors Whitehall awarded Mpailane as their Man of the Match whilst the
coaches’ award went to second row Matt Edison. Needless to say, the players
and loyal fans celebrated their promotion well into the night and with next
season being the club’s centenary, they will be playing at their highest level yet.