am Kerr’s score, with the clock in the red, clinched a 45-41 victory in a crazily entertaining game where the lead changed hand no fewer than seven times.

Clearly something special happens when these teams meet. Their first match in October ended in a 39-36 victory for Combe, so it was doubly pleasing for Colchester to squeeze home for their first-ever win against the Kent club.

On a perfect spring day, Jacob Bodkin and Callum Jeffery led the team out on their 50th appearances, but it was the visitors who opened the scoring before Colchester hit back with three quick-fire tries.

Ross Taylor’s break, then Bodkin’s surge, led to the impressive Louis Martin scoring the first. Bodkin then busted through to touch down before Gabe Jones grabbed the third following a break by Fin Creighton.

But this was never going to be straightforward, and sure enough Combe scored to make it 19-10 at the break.

The visitors were fastest out of the blocks from the restart, scoring two tries inside 10 minutes.

Martin threatened with a jinking break into the opposition 22 and it was his 50/22 kick which led to Matt Williams latching on to a high bouncing ball from the resulting line-out for the bonus point try, levelling the scores 24-24.

Taylor and Bodkin were involved as replacement Connor O’Reilly raced through for Colchester’s fifth try. But from the restart Combe’s scrumhalf Mikel Davies intercepted for his second, and a penalty had the visitors 31-34 ahead.

With the lead changing hands almost at random, Francois Rossouw belted in from 40m metres after good work by Jones and Callum Jeffery. Instantly Combe hit back for their sixth, the conversion seemingly wrapping up the win.

But this Colchester team are nothing if not obdurate, and the hosts duly laid siege to the visitors’ line.

Colchester butchered a chance as they knocked on over the line, but they remained patient. Combe had a chance to kick dead, but instead a clearance kick was charged down by Ashton Webb.

Joe Brock took it on, and Kerr swooped to win the game. Creighton’s conversion sparked joy on and off the pitch.

“It was an unbelievable effort from the guys,” said head coach Mike Haywood. “All we needed to do was give ourselves the opportunity to win in it within the last 10 minutes. We know we’ve got the set-piece plays to go after any team.”

Kerr took the coach’s player-of-the-match award, sponsored by The Lexden Crown and Amnesia Flowers, as much for his tireless work in the back row and defence as his winning try. Match sponsors Compact Storage awarded their award to Martin.

With five matches to go, starting with a home game against Sevenoaks on Saturday, Colchester are 10 points adrift of safety but still have sides in the bottom four to play.

“We just need to stick to our plans and remain consistent,” said Haywood. “Looking forward to next week we’ve got another chance now. Hopefully we can stay up in National 2 by putting another performance in.”

On a terrific day for the club, all four senior men’s side won.

The Ravens beat Diss 36-31 to secure their league status. The 3s beat Stowmarket 2s 43-31 and the 4s won 26-14 against Clacton.