A missed conversion at the death meant Colchester maintained their winning run to stay on course for promotion with five matches to go…but it could not have been closer.

Leading 28-14 with 78 minutes on the clock, Colchester appeared to be heading without drama towards win number 17 of the season.

Almost unbelievably, Tring scored two tries in the final two minutes to make it 26-28, meaning the conversion, from 10 metres in from the touchline, would tie the game.

Agonisingly for the hosts and their vocal supporters, the ball rebounded off the right post and somehow Colchester clung on for the win.

The pitch was unsurprisingly heavy given recent rain, but the sides – first and third in Regional 1 South East – served up a compelling match.

Colchester took the lead on 14 minutes. Tring turned the ball over and good work by Danny Whiteman saw captain Cam Kerr cross. Gabe Jones kicked the first of his four conversions.

Tring looked threatening in attack, but Colchester’s impressive defence held firm, and indeed the visitors doubled their lead just after the quarter.

Jonah Varela’s kick up field was knocked on, and from the resulting scrum Colchester recycled left to Jack Daly, the scrum half scampering over.

Colchester seemed to have the game in the bag on 25 minutes with a length-of-the-field score.

Colchester having repelled multiple Tring attacks, Varela intercepted close to his own line and sped up-field. The wing found Ed Parry on half-way, and with Tring short of numbers Jacob Bodkin scorched to the line, Jones’s conversion making it 21-0.

Kerr was helped off with a knee injury, to be replaced by Haydn Sykes, and shortly afterwards Tring’s efforts were rewarded with a converted try in the right corner by wing Alfie Robbins to make it 7-21 at the interval.

There was another injury blow for Colchester early in the second half as Daly left the field, Joe Pattinson coming on to the wing and Parry to scrumhalf.

Within minutes, Tring closed the gap with a breakaway try, the hosts forcing a turnover and scrum.

Colchester were awarded a penalty directly in front, but rather than kick for a certain three points they opted for a quick tap which came to nothing.

Francois Rossouw popped his shoulder, to be replaced by Alex Pybus, but Colchester continued to attack.

A penalty kicked to the corner and resulting line-out saw Fin McCartney get the final touch from an unstoppable maul, and Colchester had their bonus point.

Then came the twist in the tail. Somehow Tring found time for their two late tries, scored by their left and right wings.

But with that final conversion hitting the post they had to be content with two losing bonus points.

Mike Haywood was hopeful the injuries to three key players were not too serious.
“They were testing conditions, and fair play to Tring,” said the head coach. “Everyone wants to beat Colchester. It was probably closer than it should have been at the end.
“I’m just happy that the boys got their win in the end. Five points keeps us top of the league with five game to go.”

The side now has another weekend off before a home match against North Walsham on February 28th.

Prop Lewis Jeffery was named player-of-the-match, courtesy of The Lexden Crown.

The Ravens narrowly lost 34-29 at Newmarket; the As won 32-27 at Bury.