Colchester’s seven-match winning run came to a disappointing end at a soggy Mill Road as they lost a closely-fought game to league leaders North Walsham.

The clash of the top two sides in the league was always going to be an intense affair, and so it turned out with the lead changing hands six times.

The men from Norfolk deservedly edged it, Colchester salvaging a losing bonus point with the last kick of the match. They stay second in the table, but are now eight points behind Walsham.

Steady rain and a cross-field breeze didn’t help, but frustration was the overwhelming emotion among home players, coaches and supporters.

“We made some strategic errors and gifted North Walsham the vast majority of their points,” said Colchester 1st XV manager Jon Smith. “These are errors we can address on the training pitch”.

Given England’s monumental World Cup semi-final win over New Zealand a few hours earlier it was appropriate that Colchester played in their white change jerseys.

And just like their International look-alikes in Yokohama, Colchester scored a try inside two minutes, Conor O’Reilly touching down following a break by Richie Kaisia. James Crozier converted.

Walsham were level within four minutes, outside centre Joe Milligan with the run-in. Matt Hodgson added the conversion.

Colchester’s forward power led to their second try, winning a scrum penalty which was kicked to the corner, and from the resulting line-out and rolling maul, James Mitchell touched down.

Back came Walsham, rushed Colchester defence off the line failing to prevent Jim Riley’s try. Hodgson’s conversion put the visitors in the lead for the first time, 14-12.

Colchester played the final 10 minutes of the first half with 14 men after a yellow card for Dan Whiteman but Crozier’s penalty had Colchester leading at the break 15-14.

Just as in the first half, Colchester scored within two minutes of the restart, Nick Flexman’s long kick for touch ended up bouncing over the try line. As the Walsham defence dithered, O’Reilly pounced for his second try.

Back the game swung, this time a knock-on close to their own try line putting Colchester in trouble. From the resulting scrum, Callum Anthony burst through missed tackles to score. Hodgson converted to put Walsham back in front.

Crozier’s penalty regained the lead for Colchester but that was his last contribution as he went off soon after with his shoulder in a sling.

From a five-metre scrum, George Youngs scored Walsham’s bonus point try. It was converted by Hodgson who kicked a penalty moments later.

Flexman’s last-gasp penalty secured Colchester the losing bonus point, but it was the visiting players and supporters who were notably jubilant - and more than a little relieved - at the final whistle.

“Negatively, it was a game we had every opportunity to win and didn't,” added Smith. “Positively, today's game has shown that we have nothing to fear from North Walsham when we play them at the Scottow in February.”