Colchester bested a battling Barking side by scoring six unanswered tries to stay top of the league in a high intensity rugby contest that thrilled the large Mill Road crowd. This proved to be a proverbial game of two halves, Colchester’s barnstorming second half five tries sealing the win after Barking dominated much of the first half.

The visitors’ National League experience before relegation last season showed with their pack steady at scrums and lineouts to link with their swift back line, their prowess evidenced in accumulating the most bonus points in the league so far this season.

Colchester’s forwards took the honours by dominating loose play with their greater mobility and tenacity in driving through tackles, scoring four tries and supporting their own speedy and powerful backs. Colchester mounted a steadfast defence, absorbing waves of attacks to deny Barking any score.

Barking started strongly and controlled the first half hour as Colchester were forced into a robust defence and conceded a series of penalties, referee David Jones eventually yellow carding flanker Ollie Pickett for a lineout offence. Aided by their penalty assists, Barking besieged the Colchester 22, mauling their way over the Colchester line but adjudged held up – backchat to the referee costing a penalty that Colchester flyhalf David Higgins cleared upfield.

Colchester counterattacked, centre Matt Smith breaking tackles and wing James Crozier closing to the Barking line where fullback Craig Radford was sin binned for preventing early release, Higgins penalty kick edging wide. Barking countered aided by repeated penalties, Colchester prop Jerome Awesu yellow carded. Barking threatened until a crunching tackle by Colchester lock Graeme Hay dislodged the ball, Colchester counterattacking. A scrum win was followed by a driving maul rumbling over the Barking line where Hay grounded for the opening try on halftime for a flattering 5-0 lead.

The Colchester Coaches’ halftime team talk led to a more focused performance and fewer penalties conceded. Barking tried taking the game to Colchester but another crunching tackle by Matt Smith dislodged the ball, scrumhalf Ed Perry pouncing to quickly release No. 8 Shane Nayalo to charge upfield before offloading to flanker Ollie Picket who shrugged off tacklers to score.

Chasing the game, Barking over extended and Colchester countered from their own half, Nayalo’s and Smith carrying upfield before linking with flanker Danny Whiteman who raced in to touchdown.

Ascendant, Colchester now swept upfield, lineout and scrum wins forcing Barking to retreat and concede penalties, ending with Crozier’s quick thinking opportunist tap and race to ground the ball at the foot of the posts for the fourth bonus point try.

Attacking again the Barking backs tried to chip the Colchester defence but skipper Calum Irvine fearlessly charged the kick, the ball spinning haphazardly until plucked from the air by Crozier who led the race to score wide left, Higgins adding his third and most difficult conversion from the touchline.

Gamely trying to score, Barking’s attacking kick fielded by Colchester fullback Brett Cutbush who countered at speed, wing Matt Wadling breaking up the wing to link with Harry Gozzett, the replacement flanker running forty metres to score under the posts with his first touch of the ball. Crozier added the conversion for the 38-0 final score.

Gary Griffiths, Colchester RFC