With comfortably their best performance of the season, Colchester rattled up nine tries in a 59-5 demolition of Hertford to remain unbeaten after four matches in Regional 1 South East.

On a day when Storm Amy made life far from easy for the goal-kickers, fly-half Gabe Jones converted seven of the tries, while a stalwart defensive effort meant the hosts failed to get into Colchester’s 22 for the entire first half.

All in all, head coach Mike Haywood was an understandably happy man, especially following the less than convincing win at Westcliff last time out.

“We talked in the week about having a reaction after the Westcliff match and we got that. I’m really pleased with what we put on the pitch.”

The first half was all Colchester, and once the team had got to grips with the fearsome cross-field gale, the tries flowed.

A teasing kick by Jack Daly, back from injury, saw Hertford forced to touch down. From the resulting five metre scrum Sean Bundy stormed over for his fifth try of the campaign.

Great hands by forwards and backs led to Louis Martin, starting at full-back, going over for the second. Then with Hertford down to 14 players for a deliberate knock-on, the subsequent penalty saw Jacob Bodkin cross in the left corner.

Hooker Fin McCartney brought up the bonus point as he got the final touch from an unstoppable, express-paced rolling maul to make it 0-26 at the interval.

The relentless one-way traffic continued in the second half. Danny Whiteman scuttled over for number five from a penalty, and player-of-the match Leroy O’Neil could easily have added another with a storming drive into the Hertford danger zone minutes later.

But the sixth try was not long coming. Bundy blasted into the Hertford 22, the number 8 finding Martin who still had plenty to do to touch down for his second.

Just before the hour, the young Hertford side, missing a number of first choice players through injury, finally got on the board through Archie Anstead’s try.

But with the hosts again reduced to 14 players, O’Neil barrelled to the hosts’ line and from the resulting penalty Haydn Sykes scored.

There was still time in the final 10 minutes for Colchester to cross for two further tries, captain Cam Kerr – back from a concussion lay-off - scampering over and Sykes crossing on the left for his second.

“We know when we put our proper game on the pitch we look really good,” said Haywood. “Our attack today was awesome when we got it right.”

The coach paid tribute to Jones, who stepped up for goal-kicking duty in place of Chris Dudman, who damaged his arm while playing for Malta last weekend and faces a spell on the sidelines.

“I’m really pleased for Gabe, getting the opportunity to kick, and he made a massive difference to the final outcome.”

This weekend’s results set up a mouth-watering top-of-the-table clash as Essex rivals Southend come to Raven Park on Saturday (kick-off 3pm). “These are the games we look forward to,” said Haywood.

The Ravens had to settle for a losing bonus point as they lost 19-22 to Ipswich YM, but there were away wins for both the 3s and 4s at Mistley and Witham respectively.