Colchester Rugby Club can reflect on a hugely successful weekend with no fewer than six adult men’s and women’s sides in action – and there was success for all six.

On top of that, the club hosted five back-to-back junior, colts and women’s games on Sunday morning on the club’s main pitch, following a full mini-rugby programme.

Not surprisingly, youth rugby chairman and club fixture secretary Ross Cowie was a proud man.

“It was a fantastic weekend for the club,” said Ross. “There can be few, if any, clubs in England achieving that this weekend.”

Top of the list was the first team, who maintained their perfect record of 19 wins from 19 matches this season as they beat their only rivals for automatic promotion, Letchworth, 40-36.

It means the team are now nine points clear at the top of Regional 1 South East with three matches to play, the first of which is home to near neighbours Sudbury on March 21st which should be a blockbuster.

The Ravens brought up a half-century of points in a 50-10 win over North Walsham 2s, while the As beat Felixstowe, the team second in their league, away from home 40-19 and Cavaliers beat Stanford le Hope in a hastily arranged friendly.

Completing the winning theme on Saturday, the Kings won 57-0 against Kings Cross Steelers 3s.

International Women’s Day dawned on Sunday and fittingly the Iceni marked the occasion with a comprehensive 13-try 83-12 win over old rivals Ipswich Women in front of 150 enthusiastic and noisy spectators at Raven Park.

But the action had started much earlier on Sunday. After the usual full mini rugby programme, the artificial grass pitches came into their own with the first of seven matches, five of which were played on the main pitch.

The youths and colts fielded seven teams, all playing competitive matches – five against Cambridge with the Under-16s playing Southwold and the Under-15 development team travelling to Mersea.

There were wins for all but the Under-13 development team, and all the matches were close and enjoyable.

Ross was particularly impressed with the Under-13s game against Cambridge – “You would find it difficult to find a better-quality Under-13 game in the land!”

“As a club we should be immensely proud of what we’ve achieved this weekend,” said Ross.