In ideal playing conditions Colchester took on mid-table Guildford and, after a poor start, battled back into contention with both sides scoring three tries but Guildford gaining a close victory with a better display of conversion and penalty kicking.

The Black pack were initially up against it as the heavier visitors pushed them back but by the end of the game were on even terms. Their backs played well despite several changes in their players and were on top in the second half.

Fly half Matt Barnes kicked off and Colchester pressed forward but the visitors soon got back into the hosts half and their rolling maul ended with a score by centre Freddie Hooper which his fellow centre Rory Andrews converted.

Shortly after this, fullback Brett Cutbush clashed heads with an opponent and had to leave the field with a nasty injury. But Colchester didn’t roll over and, instead, put together some good passing moves that culminated in lock Ollie White going over for a score. At last the Blacks had points on the board and so it remained until half time.

A welcome distraction during the interval was the arrival of Welsh international prop Adam Jones who helps coach Guildford and several members of the crowd gathered round this rugby icon for photographs.

The first ten minutes of the second half saw the teams battling for dominance. One attack by Guildford was thwarted when flanker Danny Whiteman put in a bone-shuddering tackle on their centre that resulted in a penalty to Colchester but the kick was missed and an opportunity lost.

Eventually Guildford attacked and released their big lock, Scott Myles, who raced in for a try under the posts. There followed an intense period of running rugby roared on by both sets of supporters. Guildford eventually moved close to the home line, won a scrum and drove over the line for No 8 Joseph Garner to score.

Back came Colchester and neat footwork by centre Joe Flexman took him through the defence right up to the visitor’s line. The ball was recycled to Barnes whose crossfield kick found flanker Rob Pickard who scored in the corner.

This lifted the Blacks and, after the restart, they were soon pressing forwards. A defender was yellow-carded for an infringement and , following a quick tap penalty, prop Jerone Awesu crashed over for a converted try. True to form, moments later he was yellow-carded himself for illegal binding.

In the dying moments of the game, Colchester gained a penalty when Guildford committed a ‘truck and trailer’ offence and Barnes whacked the ball into touch in the visitor’s half. Once again Guildford came back but at the next stoppage the referee blew for full time and Colchester had to settle for a losing bonus point in an encouraging display where they had eventually matched Guildford in all departments only lose by a close 17-24.