Colchester made the long journey to North Walsham knowing that this would be a tough match as both sides had achieved maximum points this season with the Blacks top and the Vikings third in the league.

The visitors scored three tries to the Vikings two as they tried in vain to overtake the Blacks score. Colchester were pleased with the win but rued the fact that some suspect handling had denied them the fourth bonus point score and subsequently Rochford took the top spot.

Dynamic No 7 Dan Whiteman returned to the back row and in form hooker Dan Hexley came up from the Ravens to join the bench. Colchester kicked off in sunny but windy conditions and before long there was a Vikings' scrum. The strong Black pack drove the hosts back and earned a penalty. Unfortunately, wing James Crozier missed the kick and the follow-up attack, led by the props the two Mitchell brothers, was thwarted.

The pattern of play for the next 20 minutes found Colchester dominating the set pieces with their players making inroads into the sound Viking defence but to no avail.

Later Viking No 13 Taare Ferris sustained a nasty leg injury and had to be stretchered off the pitch. With half an hour gone, Colchester won a scrum and fly-half Brett Cutbush linked with Crozier in another attack. The whistle went and the referee brought play back giving Colchester a penalty. Crozier missed but soon made up for it by converting a good tap-and-go try by scrum-half Matt Wadling.

Colchester were 7 points ahead and so the score remained until halftime. Just before the interval, a Vikings player was yellow-carded for a high tackle on centre Francois Rossouw who was replaced by wing Harry Barton.

Early in the second half lock Alex Burman aggravated an old shoulder injury and was replaced by Dan Brennan. Later the Viking were pressing forward and fullback Jake Duffield kicked a long ball making the Blacks have a lineout 10 metres from their line. Hooker Charlie Thorogood threw to skipper Liam Pickett who fed No 8 Brock Price who crashed through the defence before offloading to Dan Brennan who ran 22 metres to score under the posts.

Shortly after this Colchester attacked again and swift movement of the ball opened up a gap for No 15 Damien Brambley to weave through and score. Again Crozier converted putting the Blacks 21 points in the lead. They had the next bonus- point try in their sights but the Vikings lifted their game and put right wing over Dan Smith for an unconverted try.

This score seemed to rejuvenate them and the game became an intense battle in the last quarter. In the dying moments, Colchester's discipline dropped and both Price and Liam Pickett were yellow-carded. The large home crowd urged their team on and soon the Vikings forced their way over by the posts for the final score which fly-half Matt Hodgson converted to bring this thrilling contest to a 12-21 conclusion.

Steve Whiteman