Colchester completed an unbeaten 2025 in Regional 1 South East with a terrific performance in attack and defence to beat Essex rivals Westcliff in arguably Raven Park’s best match of the season.

The 33-16 scoreline did not reflect the intensity of the contest, a much-improved Colchester defence keeping the visitors from south Essex at bay.

Shorn of eight first team regulars through injury, suspension or unavailability, a much-changed team saw the return of Oli Pickett 14 months after his last match, and Henry Newman and Ed Parry back from lengthy injuries.

“With all the changes we’ve had to make, it was an amazing way to finish the year,” said head coach Mike Haywood. “Credit to the boys for showing how resilient they are.”

The afternoon started with a minute’s applause for former player and president Stuart Pritchard. How he would have loved the intensity of the match which followed.
Westcliff went ahead through the first of Jonty Stewart’s three long-range penalties, but it was Colchester who scored the opening try, Fin McCartney getting the touch from a line-out drive.

Too many penalties were making life difficult for Colchester, but despite their fly-half’s impressive boot, Westcliff rarely threatened the hosts’ line as Colchester’s organised defence held firm.

Gradually Colchester worked their way into the game, one attack was held up over the line, another ended with a knock on.

But patience paid off, the ball going through multiple phases before Jacob Bodkin found space on the left to score the second try.

Gabe Jones, starting at full-back but frequently taking the play-maker role, converted from wide out to make it 12-9 at the interval.

A neck injury forced Bodkin off at the break to be replaced by Parry, then two quick-fire tries put Colchester firmly on the front foot.

First another patient build-up saw Haydn Sykes off-loading to Jack Daly who spotted a gap close to the line to dot down.

Two minutes later, Ethan Cole started the move which was taken on by Jones and Will Blakemore burst over for the bonus point.

At this point Colchester appeared untroubled, but Westcliff, belying their league position, came back into things with a try by wing Ewan Richmond, inevitably converted by Stewart.

Sykes went to the bin for a head-on-head collision, but despite being down a man, Colchester scored their fifth try late on, Jones taking the ball close to the line before the ever-alert Daly again crossed from close range. Jones kicked his fourth conversion.

The unbeaten start to the season keeps Colchester six points clear at the top of the league prompting captain Cam Kerr to say: “Thirteen wins – that means 13 beers each” in the player huddle after the final whistle.

“This could have been one of those slip-up games,” said Haywood. “Thirteen and 0 - who’d have thought that at the beginning of the year when we got relegated?

“I think the boys are looking forward to Christmas and they deserve it.”

Daly took the player-of-the-match award from sponsors Matthew Douglas, while Pickett was named coaches’ player-of-the-match, courtesy of the Lexden Crown.

Colchester now have a well-earned three-week break before action resumes with a home game against bottom club Hertford on January 10th.

The Ravens lost 32-25 at Ipswich but there were wins for both the As and the Cavaliers.