TABARD 5 COLCHESTER 27

London League division one north

On a rain-soaked muddy pitch Colchester ground out an away win in conditions that did not suit their fast flowing style.

For their part Tabard belied their lowly league position and contested the match to the end.

Colchester had the inevitable changes with Elliot Castle unwell, Jon Vine, Jako Nel and Tiko Tamani injured and Tom Crozier absent having captained London Division Under-18s the previous day.

Ollie White switched to second row, Matt Adamson took the hooker’s place and Chris Withers played at number twelve alongside Jack Wiggins at fly-half.

Charlie Thorogood got his first start of the season.

Colchester kicked off up the slope and Tabard came straight back at them but Nick Flexman relieved the pressure with a good kick to touch.

The referee made sure the line-out was straight and properly spaced and was very insistent throughout the game that the set pieces were properly carried out.

After 15 minutes of initial skirmishing Tabard launched an attack on their right and, despite stout defence from Colchester, recycled the ball again to their right for the first score of the game.

Colchester immediately attacked from the restart and worked their way to the opposite end of the pitch where Adamson dived over for a try under the posts.

Chris Withers converted and added a penalty shortly after to give the visitors a 10-5 lead.

Moments later Tabard were penalised for a crooked feed at the scrum and, from the tapped penalty, Colchester attacked again but knocked the ball forward.

They regained the ball from the ensuing scrum and whipped it along the back line via Brett Cutbush, Jack Wiggins and Chris Withers to outside centre Calum Irvine who squeezed over for a try, superbly converted by Withers, for a 17-5 Colchester lead at half-time.

At the start of the second half both teams tested the opposing defence by moving the ball through their backs but the defences held firm.

Joe Horsfall came on as a blood replacement for Ollie White while he had an eye injury attended to. Owen Herbert came on, also for his debut, on the right wing and made a couple of incisive breaks as the game progressed.

Damien Brambly also caught the eye always looking dangerous with ball in hand and made several forays into the host’s half.

Eventually, following a ruck in Tabard’s half, the ball was moved to flanker Dan Whiteman who grub kicked the ball over the try-line for James Crozier to claim the try but the referee adjudged a defender had grounded first.

Another Colchester attack brought better reward with Irvine’s second try deservedly earning him the man-of-the-match award.

Withers successful conversion closed the game out at 27-5.

Tabard were determined to prevent a Colchester bonus point and spent the dying minutes of the game attacking Colchester’s line but to no avail.

Chingford’s defeat moved Colchester up to third in the league and they look forward to another away game next weekend against old rivals and fifth placed Bury St Edmunds.