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Colchester Squad 24 Oundle 42
Doug Boulton19 Aug 2024 - 07:01
Report by Steve Whiteman
On a warm sunny afternoon at Raven Park Colchester Rugby Club had a friendly match against old rivals Oundle to test out their readiness for playing in National League 2 East this coming season, their hundreth since forming in 1924.
Before the session head coach Craig Burrows described the event. “There will be 4 different teams in each 20 minute quarter. I’ll be looking at new pairings and combinations. It would be good to win but in a way the result is irrelevant. We have a joint squad of 45 players so in one of the quarters we will have a 2nd team and a couple of players sprinkled out in the other 3 quarters.”
Colchester got off to a good start with a 14 –7 win with tries by hooker Francois Rossouw and prop Callum Jeffrey both converted by scrum half Corey Button. Oundle’s No 8 replied with a try converted by their fullback.
In the second 20 minute session things went Oundle’s way with them scoring two unanswered converted tries by their inside centre and their left wing.
The 3rd quarter was delayed because of a back injury to the visitor’s No 8 who had to be stretchered off the pitch. However Oundle did not let this setback deter them and convincingly won the session by 3 tries to nil making the total score 14-42 in their favour.
The Blacks fielded a strong team for the last quarter and were rewarded by winning the session 10 nil with new signing Fazal Oblooye scoring an excellent try after a 40 metre dash through the defence from his position on the right wing to score under the posts. Later a mixture of backs and forwards attacked down the clubhouse side for flanker Danny Whiteman to touch down in the corner much to the delight of the home crowd of supporters.
Coach Burrows said afterwards that he was well satisfied with the afternoon’s proceedings. “We used 45 players ranging from regular 1st and 2nd team players plus a lot a new players and it was a good experience for all of them. We concentrated on the first and fourth session in particular which we won and I am very grateful to Oundle for providing strong and skilled opposition throughout the afternoon.”
Next Saturday on the 24th August the Blacks have their second pre-season friendly away at Tonbridge Juddians in Kent. Travelling supporters will be most welcome.
Before the session head coach Craig Burrows described the event. “There will be 4 different teams in each 20 minute quarter. I’ll be looking at new pairings and combinations. It would be good to win but in a way the result is irrelevant. We have a joint squad of 45 players so in one of the quarters we will have a 2nd team and a couple of players sprinkled out in the other 3 quarters.”
Colchester got off to a good start with a 14 –7 win with tries by hooker Francois Rossouw and prop Callum Jeffrey both converted by scrum half Corey Button. Oundle’s No 8 replied with a try converted by their fullback.
In the second 20 minute session things went Oundle’s way with them scoring two unanswered converted tries by their inside centre and their left wing.
The 3rd quarter was delayed because of a back injury to the visitor’s No 8 who had to be stretchered off the pitch. However Oundle did not let this setback deter them and convincingly won the session by 3 tries to nil making the total score 14-42 in their favour.
The Blacks fielded a strong team for the last quarter and were rewarded by winning the session 10 nil with new signing Fazal Oblooye scoring an excellent try after a 40 metre dash through the defence from his position on the right wing to score under the posts. Later a mixture of backs and forwards attacked down the clubhouse side for flanker Danny Whiteman to touch down in the corner much to the delight of the home crowd of supporters.
Coach Burrows said afterwards that he was well satisfied with the afternoon’s proceedings. “We used 45 players ranging from regular 1st and 2nd team players plus a lot a new players and it was a good experience for all of them. We concentrated on the first and fourth session in particular which we won and I am very grateful to Oundle for providing strong and skilled opposition throughout the afternoon.”
Next Saturday on the 24th August the Blacks have their second pre-season friendly away at Tonbridge Juddians in Kent. Travelling supporters will be most welcome.
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