Colchester Rugby Club coach Tim Grimsey wants to see his players cherish the ball when they have it in the second half of the season in London League division one north.

Letchworth denied Colchester a winning start to 2011 as a last-minute try and conversion by the visitors ensured a 26-26 draw at Mill Road.

Grimsey wasn’t unhappy with the result as he considered it was a performance by the team that demonstrated how they had advanced in the last year.

However, he said the players need to retain possession more effectively during games so they can impose their open flowing style of play against sides like Letchworth, who use big powerful forwards to advance the ball.

Grimsey said: “Everything we did fast and quick, we did really well.

“It was excellent but when Letchworth got their hands on the ball and kept it tight, we struggled to get it off them.

“We can’t give up possession against sides like that as it is just so difficult to get it off a team that wants to play like that. I can’t fault any of our boys, though.

“We just have to take a bit more care when we have the ball and not give it away easily."

See this week's Essex County Standard for more reaction and a round-up of all the local rugby action.