Colchester hosted North Walsham Vikings at their cold but dry Mill Road ground in what turned out to be a very competitive game between the second and third teams in the league, both vying for the play-off second place at the end of the season. Honours were even in the first half with the lead seesawing first one way and then the other but the Blacks triumphed by scoring seventeen unanswered points after the interval to win by 3 tries and 3 penalties to the visitors' 2 tries.

Returning skipper Liam Pickett put in a Man-of-the-Match display at his fiery best in the set places and about the pitch. Dan Whiteman also came back to the openside flanker position allowing Tom Dufficy to return to the inside centre.

Colchester kicked off with a following wind to start this very physical contest. Indeed before long hooker Dan Brennan clashed with Vikings'No 8 Will Hodgson who had to leave the field injured. It was soon clear that Colchester's powerful pack had the upper hand in the scrums but the Vikings' backs posed a threat every time they got the ball.

Ten minutes into the game Vikings gave away a penalty on their 22 line which fly-half David Higgins slotted over to open the scoring at 3-0. Immediately Vikings responded and their fleet-footed No 7 Godwin gathered a kicked ball and scampered 30 metres to score an unconverted try making it 3-5.

Later whilst trying to tackle outside centre Damien Brambley the Vikings' scrum-half Duffield was injured and he too had to retire from the game replaced by Travers. Soon Colchester regained the lead with another Higgins penalty but the visitors came back again and a skilful kick by Travers over to their left-wing enabled him to speed through for their second try giving them the lead again at 6-10.

From the restart, Colchester pressed forward and lock Ollie White fed the ball swiftly to the backs at a lineout and No 8 Brock Price broke from the back of a driving maul to score in the corner giving the Blacks a slender half time lead 11-10.

After the interval Colchester tightened up their back line defence and, despite several forays, the Vikings couldn't get through. For 20 minutes these two strong teams battled it out to try to seize the initiative. Eventually, the deadlock was broken when Colchester shoved Vikings back at a scrum on the centre spot, the ball was moved through several hands to wing James Crozier who raced forward, linked with scrum-half Brett Cutbush who passed to Whiteman in support who went over for a converted try. He and Brennan were then rested and replaced by Harrison Pickett and Rhys Hartley to bring fresh impetus to the forwards.

Soon Higgins added a penalty to Colchester's score as Colchester pulled further in front 21-10. In the dying minutes of the game, the Blacks capped their team effort by collectively driving over Vikings' line from several metres for Whiteman to claim his second try which Higgins converted giving Colchester a well-earned victory.

Steve Whiteman