Colchester suffered their heaviest loss of the season to a skilful and well drilled Tonbridge team who brought a high tempo adventurous rugby that will see them challenge for promotion this season. The game was played in a competitive but good spirit.

Colchester competed throughout with many positive personal performances but, forced to play a chasing game, took reckless chances and made unforced errors that gifted scoring chances the Juddians ruthlessly exploited.

The taller and heavier Tonbridge pack retained ball well and disrupted their opponents’ possession whilst the visitors’ backs attacked with pace and angles of attack that frequently challenged Colchester. Tonbridge’s stonewall defence held attack after attack from the men in black.

Colchester fell behind to an early score as Tonbridge kicked a penalty to touch, the textbook lineout catch and drive execution leading to a try for flanker Ben Ashmore, flyhalf Liam Prescott adding the first of his six conversions.

Colchester responded with a series of spirited attacks, new centre Brandon Fanolua impressing on his home debut. Tonbridge conceded a penalty for offside that David Higgins converted into three points for Colchester.

The first scrum saw the larger Tonbridge pack drive to win turnover ball and counterattack, Colchester unable to defend the angled run of centre Tom Nicol for his try.

Higgins dummied his way to break the Tonbridge line and lead a Colchester attack that led to a 40 metre penalty score. Excitement led to rash, rushed handling errors that gifted possession to Tonbridge whose quick counterattack resulted in a try for flanker Richie Bent. Confidence growing, Tonbridge moved the ball through several phases to gain ground, fullback James Copsey making a break to set Tom Nicol in for his second try and the halftime lead 9:26.

A move straight off the Tonbridge training ground saw fast handling and angled running at pace mesmerise the Colchester defence for an early second half score by James Copsey. Colchester tried to raise their game in a series of attacks, but a comedy of errors saw uncontrolled loose ball left trailing behind a ruck, Tonbridge lock David Irvine eagerly seizing the unprotected ball to race in a try under the posts.

Luck deserted Colchester as a kick ahead bounced wickedly to be grabbed by Tonbridge for a breakaway try by wing Hugo Watson, Prescott converting for an 09:47 lead with 25 minutes to play.

As Tonbridge eased up, Colchester rallied to mount a series of attacks. Wing James Crozier, prop Jerone Awesu and scrumhalf Matt Wadling went close. Skipper Liam Pickett led by example, joining brother Ollie Pickett, flanker Joe Flexman and No.8 Danny Whiteman in working hard to mount repeated attacks to cross for a score.

Determined Tonbridge defence stonewalled waves of Colchester attacks. However, breakdown penalties earned yellow cards for Juddians’ flanker Richie Nauer before prop Steve Neli was sin binned for swinging a punch. Tonbridge defence buckled, repeated infringements earning Colchester a penalty try for which James Crozier added the conversion with the last kick of the game.