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Match report: Champions Colchester sign off with thrilling win
Doug Boulton8 Apr 2024 - 06:29
By Edward Marriage
Champions Colchester capped an outstanding season with victory in their final league match, a nerveless touch-line conversion by Jayden Boshoff snatching a 34-35 victory at Hertford with the last kick of the match.
The fly-half’s conversion of Francois Rossouw’s last-minute try means they head into the fourth level of English rugby with 20 wins from 22 matches, and on a terrific day for the club, Colchester 2s also clinched promotion, The Ravens winning 0-56 at Crusaders.
With promotion confirmed three weeks ago, Colchester could be forgiven for resting on their laurels. But having fallen behind to an early Hertford try, Colchester seemingly took control with three quick-fire scores, despite playing into a strong wind.
Rossouw had already touched down from a maul, but the referee headed under the posts to signal a penalty try for the first. Fijian army sapper Vili Tabuatamatam, making his first-team debut, burst through for number two and Dylan Read, finding his feet in the centres, crossed for the third, Boshoff converting.
The middle third of the match was all Hertford, as they ran in three tries to turn round 26-21 up, and Corey Button was forced off with a knee injury to be replaced by Yuki Takimura for what turned out to be his rugby swansong.
Despite playing with the wind in the second half, Colchester struggled to take advantage, eventually ringing the changes with Joe McMillan and Cam Kerr making way for Callum Jeffery and Alex Gerard.
It was 36-year-old Joe Mac’s final bow, the front row stalwart saying this was “a perfect time” to retire after a magnificent 265 caps for his hometown club.
Jonah Varela scorched over in the left corner for a converted try to regain the lead for the visitors, but Hertford kicked a penalty when a Colchester player went off his feet, then Kyle Lemon’s try made it 34-28, seemingly winning it for Hertford.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man, and Colchester’s leading try-scorer Rossouw duly delivered as he crossed in the right corner. But it still needed his fellow South African Boshoff to win the match from the tee.
“Never in doubt,” said Boshoff, who revealed he was spurred on by the loud barracking from the home crowd.
“Big match temperament is what we talk about,” said head coach Craig Burrows. “He’s a really good kicker and it was a hell of a way to win the game.
“Today was not one of our best performances but it was a great end to the season, and this is a magical team to be involved with.
“These boys don’t like losing, neither do I, and they always find a way. I’m just looking forward to the pathway ahead.”
Tabuatamata and Boshoff shared the coach’s player-of-the-match award, sponsored by the Lexden Crown.
Over in Norfolk, a bloodless eight-try victory means The Ravens are promoted to the Counties 1 league, the thirds finished second in their league following a 22-11 win against Hadleigh, while the fours lost at Halstead.
The fly-half’s conversion of Francois Rossouw’s last-minute try means they head into the fourth level of English rugby with 20 wins from 22 matches, and on a terrific day for the club, Colchester 2s also clinched promotion, The Ravens winning 0-56 at Crusaders.
With promotion confirmed three weeks ago, Colchester could be forgiven for resting on their laurels. But having fallen behind to an early Hertford try, Colchester seemingly took control with three quick-fire scores, despite playing into a strong wind.
Rossouw had already touched down from a maul, but the referee headed under the posts to signal a penalty try for the first. Fijian army sapper Vili Tabuatamatam, making his first-team debut, burst through for number two and Dylan Read, finding his feet in the centres, crossed for the third, Boshoff converting.
The middle third of the match was all Hertford, as they ran in three tries to turn round 26-21 up, and Corey Button was forced off with a knee injury to be replaced by Yuki Takimura for what turned out to be his rugby swansong.
Despite playing with the wind in the second half, Colchester struggled to take advantage, eventually ringing the changes with Joe McMillan and Cam Kerr making way for Callum Jeffery and Alex Gerard.
It was 36-year-old Joe Mac’s final bow, the front row stalwart saying this was “a perfect time” to retire after a magnificent 265 caps for his hometown club.
Jonah Varela scorched over in the left corner for a converted try to regain the lead for the visitors, but Hertford kicked a penalty when a Colchester player went off his feet, then Kyle Lemon’s try made it 34-28, seemingly winning it for Hertford.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man, and Colchester’s leading try-scorer Rossouw duly delivered as he crossed in the right corner. But it still needed his fellow South African Boshoff to win the match from the tee.
“Never in doubt,” said Boshoff, who revealed he was spurred on by the loud barracking from the home crowd.
“Big match temperament is what we talk about,” said head coach Craig Burrows. “He’s a really good kicker and it was a hell of a way to win the game.
“Today was not one of our best performances but it was a great end to the season, and this is a magical team to be involved with.
“These boys don’t like losing, neither do I, and they always find a way. I’m just looking forward to the pathway ahead.”
Tabuatamata and Boshoff shared the coach’s player-of-the-match award, sponsored by the Lexden Crown.
Over in Norfolk, a bloodless eight-try victory means The Ravens are promoted to the Counties 1 league, the thirds finished second in their league following a 22-11 win against Hadleigh, while the fours lost at Halstead.
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