Colchester entertained visitors Guernsey for their first game of the season on a warm but wet day at their Mill Road ground in front of a large crowd of spectators. The visitors got the better of the first half but the Black’s fly half David Higgins kept the hosts in touch with a fine kicking display that included a drop goal from almost the halfway line.

Things started badly for Colchester when prop James Mitchell injured his ankle in the warm-up and had to be replaced by newcomer Miles Davies.

However they got the first score when Higgins coolly slotted a penalty kick between the posts after just five minutes. The game then moved to and fro until Guernsey won a scrum ten metres out from the host’s line and their hooker Tom Ceillam scooted over for a converted try under the posts. Shortly after this they repeated the feat from an attacking lineout putting flanker Dan Hill over to increase their lead to 3-12.

Another successful penalty by Higgins reduced the deficit shortly afterwards followed by his brilliant drop goal to close the gap to 9-12. Not to be outdone it was now the turn of the big Guernsey pack to turn the screw on the hosts.
They advanced up to Colchester’s line and won a lineout. The long throw by Ceillam was caught by their flanker who was blocked by Joe Flexman but managed to pass it to their backs who quickly moved the ball to fullback Sam Whithead to score in the corner making the interval score 9-17.

After the break Guernsey again deployed their catch and drive technique to good effect at a lineout for their lock Luke Skovronek to score a converted try. Colchester rallied from the restart and soon forced the visitors to choose a scrum ten metres from their try line. The defenders fumbled the ball and from the ensuing scrum Matt Wadling picked up and threaded his way through the defence for an excellent converted try.

Colchester’s flanker Dan Whiteman came off the bench and was soon involved in an attack down the middle offloading to hooker Rhys Hartley who fed Higgins whose crossfield kick was unfortunately knocked on. Then debutant centre Kappa joined the fray and immediately made an impact starting an attack that was finished by his fellow centre Damien Brambley sprinting up to the visitor’s line to put left wing James Crozier over for a good try. The reliable Higgins converted from the touchline and the score had closed to 23-29.
Colchester scented a possible victory but, try as they may, could not breach the Guernsey defence. When referee Ben Wilde signalled that time was almost up the Blacks kept possession and doggedly worked their way into their opponent’s half lead by the commands of skipper Liam Pickett. But eventually the ball was turned over by Guernsey and they booted it off the pitch to claim a close win with the Blacks having to settle for a losing bonus point.