Colchester couldn’t capitalise on their numerical advantage in a remarkable match of 11 tries and three red cards, eventually losing 42-26 to high-flying Dorking.

The hosts, who came into the game third in Nat 2 East, received their second red card midway through the second half. Added to a couple of yellow cards, Dorking played all but five minutes of the second period with 13 players.

Colchester trailed by just three points with half an hour to go, but when The Blacks were themselves reduced to 14 after Ed Parry was shown red for a clash of heads, Dorking scored twice in the final quarter to dash hopes of a second successive away win.

“It’s disappointing we didn’t win but not many teams come to Dorking and get them rattled how they were today,” said head coach Mike Haywood.

Colchester fielded an unchanged starting XV from last week’s win at Guernsey, but were behind the sticks inside two minutes as Dorking were quick out of the blocks.

The first of numerous penalties for high tackles led to Colchester taking the lead. From the resulting line-out maul, Ross Taylor looped round in a beautifully executed training ground move, Gabe Jones kicking the first of three conversions.

Dorking then scored three quick-fire tries to put them 24-7 ahead inside 15 minutes.

Colchester can’t be criticised for their try-scoring this season, and sure enough Francois Rossouw got the final touch to a line-out maul after Dorking were penalised for another high shot.

The hosts received the first of their yellow cards for Musa Adams, and the instant the hooker returned from the bin, his captain Will Scholes saw yellow.

Turning round 24-12 ahead, the home side’s poor discipline cost them dear as openside Tom Bloomer was binned for killing the ball.
Colchester took advantage; a typical textbook take at the lineout by Charlie Friend and good work by Danny Whiteman creating Rossouw’s second try.

Frustratingly, Colchester instantly let Dorking in for their fifth, but the hosts were soon yet again down to 13 as lock Steve Howorth saw red for a clothes line tackle on Ashton Webb.

Colchester cashed in as Jacob Bodkin broke through the centre to bring up their bonus point, the conversion making it a three-point game.

Within two minutes of returning from the bin, Bloomer was shown a second yellow for a tip tackle, and with Dorking down to 13 for the remainder of the game, Colchester sniffed a chance of victory.

But with Parry sent off, Dorking ran in two further tries to wrap things up. And there was still time for one final yellow card for replacement George Liversidge.

“When we get inside their 22 and they’re down to 13 you have to make it count,” rued Haywood.

“The guys have been doing fantastic and put in loads of hard work. It’s just getting that consistency to execute what we’re trying to put on the pitch.”

Charlie Friend’s immaculate lineout work earned him the player-of-the-match award, but less happily Ed Parry went to hospital for a check-up following the accidental clash of heads.

Colchester now play two consecutive home matches, starting with Westcombe Park on Saturday (3pm).

The Ravens endured a tough afternoon as they lost 32-54 to Saffron Walden, but the 3s won 24-31 at Braintree.