Colchester Rugby Club hard earned victory in this top of the table contest made it a fantastic four consecutive bonus point wins for Colchester who remain second in the league. Visitors Letchworth Garden City’s hopes of a win were ploughed through by Colchester’s audacious attacking and tenacious tackling which proved too much for the plucky Hertfordshire visitors.
The first rainy game of the season meant both teams had to battle the elements as well as each other but apart from the occasional slip or knock-on, good rugby was enjoyed by the crowd who braved the downpour.
Despite making a few changes to the team who won away at Luton last week the strength of the Colchester squad enabled them to press Letchworth from the start. From a solid scrum No. 8 James McRae charged, quickly recycled ball whipped along the fast back line where full back Brett Cutbush cut inside to score the opening try on three minutes, David Higgins converting.
After pinning Letchworth back with skilfully flighted kicks, Colchester flyhalf Higgins converted a brace of penalties for offside and not releasing at the tackle.
Letchworth tried to run the ball but moves crashed against a red shirted wall of Colchester defenders. Attacks seldom made ground, crabbing laterally or going backwards under intense Colchester defensive pressure. A crunching tackle by centre James Green dislodged the ball, hooker Charlie Thorogood pouncing to set up a counterattack. Forwards linked with backs, passing out of the tackle to maintain a dynamic attacking momentum until skipper Calum Irvine drew defenders before laying off the ball for flanker Danny Whiteman to race in Colchester’s second try.
Mounting a foray into their host’s half where Colchester were penalized at the breakdown, flyhalf Tom Ansell kicked Letchworth onto the scoreboard.
Higgins high restart kick was chased and pressured by the Colchester pack, Letchworth knocking on. Scrumhalf Gregor Irvine spun the scrum ball to brother Calum whose angle of attack took him through the first line of defenders to close to the line, quickly recycled ball enabling wing James Crozier to add the third try, Higgins converting.
Letchworth continued to press, their forwards retaining the ball through a series of phases in the five minutes before halftime but Colchester’s defence never faltered.

Ahead 25-3 at the turnaround, Colchester absorbed Letchworth attacks before a fast counter saw Crozier almost bursting to the line only to lose the ball forward in the tackle. The visitors returned to the attack where Colchester were penalized for not releasing the tackler, Ansell adding the kick to double his team’s points tally.
Responding straight away, Higgins excellent restart kick was knocked on by a Letchworth hand. The scrum provided the platform for another set move that saw James Green scythe through the centre, linking with James Crozier who drew defenders before unleashing the ever supporting Danny Whiteman to race in his second and Colchester’s fourth bonus point try.
Relaxing with the win in sight proved costly as Letchworth finally worked an overlap for wing James Tirrell to score a try.
Once again Colchester retook Higgins restart kick, flanker Ollie Picket leading the charge supported by brother Liam and his fellow lock Graeme Hay. Quickly recycled ball enabled prop Jerome Awesu to crash over for a well received try, Higgins adding the conversion.
Wing Damien Brambley looked to have added a sixth Colchester try after he gathered Higgins kick to cross in the corner but was ruled offside by referee David Conway whose whistle brought the exciting game to the end.

Gary Griffiths
Colchester RFC