Colchester failed to hold off a storming second half fightback by Sevenoaks as the Kent side won a thrilling match between the Nat 2 East relegation rivals at Raven Park.

The Blacks seemed to be in complete control after scoring four unanswered first half tries but faded disappointingly after the break, ultimately losing 23-27.

To complete a miserable afternoon, Fin Creighton suffered a serious head injury late on, with play held up for around 25 minutes as an ambulance came on to the pitch to take the scrum half to hospital.

On a fine but cold afternoon, Oaks drew first blood through Ben Adams’s penalty, before the hosts hit the thrusters.

From a lineout, Ross Taylor burst through from the Oaks 22, then with the visitors reduced to 14 players after conceding four consecutive penalties in the red zone, Francois Rossouw got the final touch from a maul.

On the half hour a massive penalty kick from Creighton, deep into the Sevenoaks 22, gave Colchester the opportunity to get their line-out maul going again, and this time it was Cam Kerr who benefitted.

A fabulous run by Taylor into Oaks territory came to nothing, but soon after the referee summoned the two captains for one of several lectures in a penalty-strewn match.

From a scrum in the shadow of the posts, a half break by George Liverside saw the ball swing left for Will Blakemore to run in the bonus point try.

Ultimately it was to turn out costly that all four tries went unconverted, and when Matt McRae cashed in on one of several penalties conceded by Colchester to cross for Oaks on the stroke of half time, the fightback was on.

With both sides reduced to 14 players early in the second half, Jacob Iwell’s converted try reduced the deficit to five points. Then a penalty try, as Colchester pulled down a maul, nudged Oaks in front 20-22.

A yellow card for that offence was inevitable, with Haydn Sykes the player picked out. But despite the numerical disadvantage Colchester briefly regained the lead through Creighton’s penalty.

That, however, turned out to be their only score in the second period and Charlie Corrigan duly crossed for Oaks four minutes from time to win the match.

Colchester still had a chance to score when play resumed after the injury to the unfortunate Creighton, but their penalty kicked into the Oaks 22 came to nothing.

All the replacements saw action, including a welcome return for Jonah Varela after his concussion lay-off.

Colchester’s away match to bottom club Worthing on Saturday – already huge - now takes on added significance as The Blacks find themselves nine points from safety with four matches to play.

“It’s disappointing,” said head coach Mike Haywood. “In the first half we put our shape on the pitch and it paid dividends.

“It was a game of two halves and in the second half we didn’t cope with the wind and ended up on the wrong side of the result.

“We’re chasing, we’re in the right position, picking up points and Worthing next week is really important for us.”

Sponsors SRC’s player-of-the-match was Ashton Webb, while the coach’s gong, courtesy of The Lexden Crown and Amnesia Flowers, went to Ross Taylor.

The 4s won their friendly against Witham 34-21.