1st XV
Matches
Sat 14 Sep 2019  ·  London 1 North
Colchester RFC
1st XV
8
5
Sudbury
Colchester 1st XV 8 | 5 Sudbury

Colchester 1st XV 8 | 5 Sudbury

Laura Parker15 Sep 2019 - 07:26
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In an uncharacteristic performance, Colchester secure a narrow win against local rivals Sudbury

Colchester made it two wins from two as they beat nearest-rivals Sudbury at Mill Road – but that was just about the only positive to come from a dour match and a disappointing showing by the home side.

Coming off the back of the bonus-point win against Shelford a week earlier, Colchester turned in a strangely lethargic and error-strewn performance which had the coaches and spectators alike scratching their heads.

The conditions could not have been any better. A warm and sunny late summer’s day with hardly a breath of wind, and a firm pitch, should have been perfect for running rugby.

As it was, Jerone Awesu’s try midway through the first half was the only high spot of the day. The loosehead prop started the move with a burst through the Sudbury defence on their 22-metre line. A series of pick and goes by the forwards led to Awesu crashing over to finish the job he had started.

But any evening plans to celebrate what was his 24th birthday may have been slightly curtailed after he limped off with a hamstring injury late in the second half.

James Crozier failed with the conversion attempt but kicked a second-half penalty to complete the home side’s scoring.

The coaching team were at a loss to explain the thoroughly underwhelming performance, and there was a lengthy post-mortem in the changing rooms after the final whistle.

“We’ve got plenty to work on”, said Colchester’s 1st XV Manager Jon Smith in the immediate aftermath. “There’ve been some really honest conversations in the last few minutes and the players and the management team are under no illusion as to where we need to go next.”

Credit goes to Sudbury, who were coming off the back of a heavy home defeat to Eton Manor the previous week. They left with a deserved losing bonus point thanks to a well-worked try by wing Austin Beckett in the second half.

Smith praised the visitors for playing the game in “a very smart way” but made the point that more powerful teams could have made Colchester pay. “If we’d been playing North Walsham or Brentwood or Chingford - one of the other sides that are dead-set on promotion - we could have been in trouble today”.

The flow of the match was not helped by ill-discipline from both sides, with two yellow cards shown to Sudbury players for high tackles and Colchester hooker Charlie Thorogood sin-binned for off-side. But that doesn’t totally explain the lack of entertainment for the decent-sized derby day crowd.

The competitive nature of London 1 North is illustrated by the fact that Colchester are fourth in the embryonic league table, one point behind leaders North Walsham.

After two opening home matches, it’s an away trip to newcomers Harpenden next, and Jon Smith expects the Hertfordshire side’s artificial pitch will suit them.

“It’s the kind of game that we enjoy. It will play to our running game.”

Edward Marriage

Match details

Match date

Sat 14 Sep 2019

Kickoff

TBC

Competition

London 1 North

League position

4
Colchester
12
Sudbury
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Primary Club Partner - SRC Group
Primary Club Partner - Whitehall Resources
Platinum Partner - The Dental Studio
Platinum Partner - Libre Solutions
Platinum Partner - Oakheart Property
Platinum Partner - Red Rock Property Management
Premier Mini Partner - St Joseph's College
Gym Sponsor - Rebel Strengh
Shop Partner - RBX
Kit Partner - STC Teamwear