Visiting newly promoted Sudbury Colchester notched up a bonus point win only marred in the last ten minutes by a bout of indiscipline. Despite this, they climb from fourth to third in the league making the most of an excellent pitch and cheered on by a large crowd.

Three players were unavailable due to injuries and their places were taken by veteran lock Elliott Castle, fullback Damien Brambley and hooker Charlie Thorogood, the latter on the bench with newcomer Hugo Kellaway.

Sudbury kicked off and almost immediately were awarded a penalty that their fly half converted giving them an early 3-0 lead. Within minutes Colchester replied with a penalty of their own by wing James Crozier. The game proceeded and it was soon evident that the Black scrum was stronger providing their backs with quality ball. They pressed towards the home try line and forced the defence to take a lineout only ten metres out. Flanker Danny Whiteman burst forward, intercepted the half backs' pass, to score the first try.

Later skipper Liam Pickett stole the ball from a Sudbury lineout, it was moved first left then right before Castle crashed over the line. 3-15 to the Blacks who were looking very confident at this stage. Fullback Brambley was having a very positive effect with his good catching and weaving runs.

Later, following a clash of bodies, Rhys Hartley left the field and on came Dan Brennan.

Sudbury got the ball to their backs and with good handling attacked down the slope for their outside centre to claim a converted try. From the restart Colchester made ground before being awarded a penalty for an opponent being offside. They opted for a scrum, drove back the opposition to enable scrum half Matt Wadling to dart over for a converted try.

Colchester were soon back at Sudbury's end and intense pressure resulted in prop James Mitchell going over between the posts for the bonus point try. Crozier converted and at half time the lead was 10-29.

Early after the interval the Black pack again drove forward for flanker Ollie Pickett to score their fifth try. Sudbury were now 10-34 down but did not give up and only excellent defence by centres Joe Flexman and Francois Rossouw kept them out. Soon Crozier converted his second penalty to bring the score to 10-37.

From this moment Colchester's indiscipline tarnished what had been an excellent display of running rugby. In turn the skipper and Wadling were yellow carded and had to leave the pitch then a fracas broke out amongst the forwards and both No 8 Harrison Pickett and hooker Hartley left the game as they were red carded.

Colchester now had only eleven players on the field holding out for a while until the home side rounded their depleted numbers and scored their second converted try to make the final score of this pulsating derby match 17-37.

Man of the match was awarded to no.7 Dan Whiteman for his unfaltering defence and constant work rate.

Steve Whiteman