Colchester came within an ace of beating 3rd placed East Grinstead, in a close game where the lead changed hands no less than four times. The soft pitch stood up well to the foot pounding it received during the game which was played in mild and slightly windy conditions.

The Blacks fielded debutant Ben Kelland at No 4 and also saw the return of Charlie Marsden at No 8, both of whom performed well.
The home side kicked off and Colchester’s fly half David Higgins returned the kick with interest only for the ball to be dropped by a defender. This was a sign of things to come with pressure, particularly from the Black’s back row, forcing the opposition to make handling errors.

Referee Dave Huson spent quite a time settling the scrums down but eventually the game opened up as Colchester attacked the home corner only for defender Adam Halsey to receive a yellow card for being offside at the ruck. The game continued with the home side tending to have the upper-hand in the scrums and Colchester dominating the lineouts. Soon the ball was passed to centre Damien Brambley who kicked it forward but the following players were obstructed and Higgins made sure of the penalty kick putting Colchester 3 points in the lead.

From the restart the home side raised their game and attacked the visitors’ line ending with flanker Mike Danbee scoring a try, converted by fly half Liam Prescott, putting them 7-3 in the lead.

Shortly after this Colchester attacked down the wing and Owen Herbert used his pace to outstrip the defence but his long pass to supporting flanker Ben Murphy was forward and the scoring opportunity was missed. On the plus side, though, Higgins soon converted a penalty bringing the half time score close at 7-6.

Scrum half Matt Wadling was on for Jaid Wiltshire and Alfie Walsh for the injured Jerome Awesu. At the start of the second half the Blacks had a purple patch where the ball was passed quickly through several hands before Murphy was forced into touch close to the East Grinstead line. Colchester’s pack muscled the ball forwards for skipper Liam Pickett to claim a try for the Blacks to retake the lead 7-11.

Halfway through the second half Prescott received a yellow card and East Grinstead had to spend ten minutes without their main kicker. Despite this they surged forward with ball in hand and, despite stout resistance from the Blacks, hooker Rhys Hartley powered over the line for an unconverted try to put the home side back in front.

Later Joe Flexman came off the bench to replace the excellent Murphy just before the returning Prescott was successful with a penalty kick to extend East Grinstead’s lead to 15-11.

In a last throw of the dice Colchester attacked the home corner and won a lineout but, when the ball was thrown in, it was judged not straight and the chance to score a winning try was missed as the final whistle blew with Colchester getting some consolation from earning a losing bonus point.