Colchester 1st XV 14 Westcombe Park 32

Valiant Colchester put in a brave display against Westcombe Park competing well against the Kent outfit who are nine places higher in the league but eventually losing by two tries to five in a pulsating match at a cold but dry Mill Road ground.
The visitors kicked off and right wing James Crozier made good the return kick. Combe attacked and Colchester prop Jerone Awesu tackled their centre. The Kent side were awarded a penalty which fly half James Cameron converted giving them a 3 point lead.
Despite this early setback the Blacks came back at Combe through right wing Damien Brambley leading to a maul in their half. Scrum half Matt Wadling picked up and sped over the line to give Colchester a 7-3 lead.
Before long Combe were back in Colchester’s half turning over ball to release their fullback Frankie Neale to score and put them back in the lead 7-8.
Colchester’s pack were being pushed back in the set pieces but the lineouts were more successful with hooker Charlie Thorogood linking well with jumpers Liam Pickett and Ethan Hughes. In the backs centres Brandon Fanolua and George Liversidge tried hard to make inroads into the Kent defence and also defended well often stopping their heavier opponents in their tracks.
Later Colchester gave away a penalty which Cameron kicked to touch on their 22 line. Winning their lineout Combe moved the ball right for centre Ant Hitchcock to go over for an unconverted try in the corner.
This physical game took a turn for the worse when Awesu was illegally tackled much to the annoyance of the home crowd. Combe’s hooker was yellow-carded and off for ten minutes. Tom Jepson replaced Awesu when he was injured again meaning the Blacks now had two hookers in the front row. Not long after this Combe had another player cautioned by the referee but Crozier was unsuccessful with the penalty kick leaving the halftime score at 7-13.
Tom Miller restarted after the interval and the Blacks attacked. Unfortunately the move broke down when a Blacks player came in at the side of a maul. Cameron kicked the awarded penalty to the corner and from their lineout Combe drove forward for flanker Isaac Ajayi to claim a converted try.
Andy Goodbourne came of the home bench to replace Jepson. Moments later Combe were back down the hosts’ end and following no less than three attempts at a scrum were awarded a bonus point penalty try.
Colchester could have given up at this stage but, to their credit, they raised their game once more and advanced into the visitors’ territory. A weaving run by Brambley outwitted the defence and he scored a fine try in the corner. Crozier converted and the Blacks were closer at 14-25.
Flankers Flexman and Whiteman were working tirelessly in the back row, with the former being replaced by Rob Pickard. In the dying moments of the game Combe claimed their fifth and final score by wing Nathan Thomas bringing them victory by 32 points to 14.