Colchester’s thirteen tries proved unlucky for Thurrock whose player injuries and unavailability reduced their chances against an in-form and determined promotion chasing Colchester team. This was Colchester’s twenty-second consecutive victory and the tenth game this season in which they have scored more than fifty points.

The south Essex visitors played national league rugby until relegated last season but for this game had to field second and third team players. Though depleted, Thurrock played gamely for a 24-7 at half time deficit but could not cope with Colchester’s pace, fitness and competitive spirit in an awesome second half display that delivered fifty-nine unanswered points.

Ollie Pickett crowned his Samsung Try of the Month award for February 2015 with a hat trick of tries, teammates Joe Flexman, Matt Smith, Brett Cutbush and skipper Calum Irvine adding braces of tries apiece whilst James Crozier (6) and David Higgins (3) contributed nine conversions.

Colchester took the lead early. A line break by flyhalf David Higgins set hooker Charlie Thorogood to race in the opening try. Flanker Danny Whiteman’s quickly taken penalty and thirty metre break rattled the Thurrock defence for centre Matt Smith to cut through and touchdown.

Thurrock showed their national league experience with a series of attacks creating an overlap try for wing Sam Coultish, Seb Roache’s touchline conversion besting the gusting wind.

Anxious for a four try bonus point, Colchester conceded penalties until another opportunistic penalty tap and go diagonal run by skipper Calum Irvine ghosted through the retreating Thurrock defence to score before combining with Whiteman in an audacious counterattack from their own twenty-two that set Ollie Pickett in for the team’s fourth bonus point try. A fifty metre break by wing Damo Brambley was held up short of the line, flanker Harry Gozzett unluckily knocking-on diving to ground the ball over the Thurrock line in the last play of the first half.

Anthony O’Riordan’s coaching team ironed out the anxiety in Colchester’s first half display to cut down on unforced errors in a dazzling second half display.

Props James Mitchell, Jo McMillan and replacement Jay Hatcher combined with bulldozer lock Graeme Hay and lineout king Liam Pickett to dominate play in the tight and loose, the back row of Gozzett Pickett, Whiteman with hooker Thorogood hunting and winning ball. Scrumhalves Ed Parry and Matt Wadling passed and ran effectively.

Thurrock restarted and took play close to the Colchester line, but turnover ball led to a break upfield by Matt Smith culminating in Ollie Pickett beating tacklers for his second try. Matt Wadling’s break released Joe Flexman for his first try before Ollie Pickett’s hat trick try finished a handling move involving most of the Colchester team.

Brambley turned try creator with a series of impressive runs. Breaking at speed with Irvine he sent Smith in for his second try before long distance attacks from his own twenty-two set skipper Irvine for his second try, another break setting Brett Cutbush for a try.

Cutbush dummied and sidestepped his way to score his second try after Joe McMillan was brought down by a diving ankle tap just short of the tryline. Matt Smith broke several tired tackles before linking with the supporting Harry Gozzett for his touchdown. Quick Colchester handling created an overlap for Joe Flexman to close the scoring with his second try to take the score past eighty points for the game.