Colchester worked hard for their win over Guernsey in this nail-biting thriller, third time lucky against the Channel Islanders who won both the away league fixture and pre-season friendly. The win was testimony to the improvements Director of Rugby Anthony O’Riordan has added to his Colchester squad this season

Starting the day four places above Colchester in the league, Guernsey play a physical and direct style of rugby that tested the defensive mettle of their hosts as they retained the lion’s share of possession.

Colchester Forwards Coach Lee Soper equipped his pack with foraging and defensive skills that proved invaluable against the larger Guernsey pack whilst Backs Coach Nic Lloyd imbued the backs with a buccaneering attacking spirit that created four tries. Calum Irvine bagged a brace alongside wings James Crozier and the improving Damien Brambley.

Guernsey started strongly, cold fingers leading to a Colchester knock on five metres from their line. The resulting scrum was driven to the Colchester line where referee Benedict Preece awarded Guernsey a penalty try, Flyhalf Owen Thomas adding the conversion.

Stung into action, Colchester responded quickly. From the restart, the Guernsey ball carrier was bundled into touch by centre Matt Smith. Skipper Liam Pickett rose to win the throw and Colchester drove on, tying in defenders until scrumhalf Brett Cutbush’s pass found Damo Brambley who powered over the line, flyhalf David Higgins adding the touchline conversion.

The game then swung to and fro, Brambley twice rounded his opponent but Guernsey’s drift defence shut out the threats. Both sides traded penalties to bring their scores to ten apiece.

The stalemate was broken by a Brambley crunching midfield tackle, the turnover ball hoofed upfield where a knock-on earned Colchester a scrum. The Mitchell brothers sorted their opposing props and James and Alex steadied the Colchester scrum from whence Cutbush sped the ball wide, Smith passing out of a tackle to feed Irvine who dragged tacklers with him to score under the post, Higgins converting.

Guernsey recovered their restart kick to mount a series of attacks, edging ever closer the Colchester line – until wing James Crozier’s well timed interception sent him racing three-quarters the length of the field for an opportunist try and the halftime lead 22:10.

Fearing Colchester’s backs, Guernsey adopted an “up the jumper” approach for the second half. Waves of forward pick and go attacks recycled possession as Guernsey ground forward, Colchester working hard to defend their line until flanker Eamonn Chapman twisted his way over for a try, Thomas converting.

Déjà vu waves of attacks followed, another Guernsey attack held up on the line. Colchester’s staunch defending forced a fumble and from the scrum No. 8 Sam Easton surged upfield, Danny Whiteman supporting. Playing heads-up rugby, Higgins led a breakout by running rather than kicking, passing to Brambley who broke to halfway before linking with Irvine who ran in his second try from 45 metres.

Guernsey then laid siege to the Colchester line, scrumhalf Adam Nixon darting over for a try that Thomas converted for 27:24.

Colchester then raised their ‘black wall’ to steadfastly repulse attack after Guernsey attack until the final whistle brought relief and victory cheers from the Colchester team and their supporters.