Colchester maintained momentum in this tough league with a bonus point win over Brentwood in this thrilling Essex derby played in front of a large crowd.

This Christmas cracker of a game was played in dry but windy conditions with the hosts fielding the same side that beat Chingford the previous week, except for colt Ed Parry who acquitted himself well when he came off the bench for his first team debut.

Colchester remains one point ahead of Eton Manor at the top of the table.

Playing with the wind Colchester attacked the visitors from the start but Brentwood was equal to the challenge and the first quarter of an hour was a battle for supremacy with neither side able to break the other's defence. The strong wind made kicking for goal difficult and both fly halves were unable to convert any first half kicks.

The deadlock was broken when No 8 James McRae caught a Brentwood drop out, linked with centre Matt Smith, who evaded the defence and passed to left wing James Crozier, who scored a fine try under the posts which he converted.
Subsequently a backs move by the hosts was intercepted by Jonathan Wylie, Brentwood's outside centre, who sprinted through for an unconverted try.

Shortly after the restart Colchester attacked again and the ball was passed quickly along the backs to full back Brett Cutbush to go over in the corner bringing the half time score to 12-5.

Jay Hatcher came off the bench for loose-head prop Joe McMillan. Colchester kicked off the second half with only this seven point cushion and now facing a strong wind. Before long they were awarded a penalty on the halfway line which fly half David Higgins kicked into touch well within the visitor's half. Securing their lineout, Colchester forwards moved the ball to scrum half Matt Wadling who passed wide and several players carried the ball forward before McRae touched down to the right of the posts.

The visitors could sense the game slipping away from them so they applied great pressure especially around the base of the scrum making the hard yards towards Colchester's line. Their reward was to be awarded four penalties in succession and each time they chose to scrummage. Colchester's prop James Mitchell was yellow carded on the forth, McMillan returning to boost the scrum whilst flanker Harry Gozzett left the field of play to keep Colchester to 14 men.

Yet another scrum was attempted and the referee decided to award a penalty try bringing the score to 17-12 after fly half Charlie Chambers' conversion. Calum Irvine came off the host's bench for inside centre Joe Flexman and before long made a great break through the Brentwood defence to run fifty metres and make a crucial game-changing score. Higgins converted giving Colchester a 12 point lead.

Brentwood threw everything they had at Colchester but the home defence held firm. Somewhat against the run of play the dynamic McRae raced through from his own half and fed right wing Dave Brennan who scored out wide. Within minutes McRae burst through again and gave Brennan his second try bringing the final score to 36-12, an early Christmas present for the delighted home spectators.