Bad luck cost Colchester a win against a combative Southend side, coming away with their fourth bonus losing point this season. Colchester can take many positive aspects from the match.

Having parted company with their Director of Rugby after an indifferent start this season, recently relegated Southend were keen to record a win. Their larger pack caused problems, No.8 Potu Leavesa proving a handful as a ball carrier, flankers Chris Shields and Ian Morrison winning turnover ball. Yet over-eager play earned several warnings from referee Sam Brown and penalties that almost cost the game.

Visitors Colchester fielded another changed side with an impressive debut from Brandon Fanolua at centre. Colchester No.8 Danny Whiteman tackled and carried throughout and sacked the Southend scrumhalf at several rucks, flanker Ollie Pickett challenging the Southend defence, flanker Rob Pickard impressing and scoring a try. Colchester defended well for most of the game and built attacks to take the game to their hosts.

The game started with an early exchange of penalties, Colchester’s conversion hitting the crossbar but falling the right way to kicker David Higgins’ relief.

The restart kick led to an unlucky incident that ultimately influenced the result. Wing Damien Brambley tried to trap the bouncing ball with his foot but it rebounded forward to Ollie Pickett who instinctively caught it – an offside penalty Southend flyhalf Chris Vaughn kicked for three points.

Southend mounted a series of forward attacks, Colchester wing James Crozier yellow carded for an unsafe tackle. Using their extra man advantage, Southend wing Jaid Wiltshire scored an overlap try for the 11:03 lead.

Restored to full strength, Colchester rallied, pressurising Southend who conceded penalties. Higgins kicked one to narrow the deficit. Further pressure led to more penalties against the home side, the referee warned both skippers before a sin-binning for Southend flanker Shields.

Colchester took control, Higgins kicking another penalty to the corner where the Colchester forwards won the resulting lineout and drove over the line, Rob Pickard grounding for the try. Higgins added the difficult conversion to give Colchester the lead 11:13. Southend crossed the line but were brought back for a foot in touch.

Trying to build on their halftime lead, Colchester pressed Southend at the start of the second half, stamping earning another Southend yellow card.

Higgins narrowly missed a penalty conversion before Southend kicked to clear, a Colchester knock-on conceding possession. The scrum win enabled Southend to spread the ball wide where left wing Danny Cleare ran in a try, Vaughan adding the conversion.

The restart kick taker was bundled over by the chasing Crozier, Leavesa tackled by Ollie Pickett and penalised for not releasing. Higgins converted to narrow the lead to two points.

Southend then clung on to their win, up-the-jumper forward rumbles denying Colchester possession, skipper Ollie Pickett yellow carded for a potentially dangerous tackle as the home side ground out a lucky narrow win.

FULL TIME: Southend Saxons 18 – 16 Colchester 1st XV