Colchester Rugby Club’s under-13s struggled to produce their best form in muddy conditions but eventually defeated a stout Sudbury side 27-7 in the Suffolk Cup.

After weathering an initial period of Sudbury pressure, a quickly taken penalty allowed the Colchester backs to release winger Charlie Andrews to run in under the posts for a try, converted by fly-half Tom Bellis.

Flanker Ben Kelland crashed over from a five metre scrum, but poor handling, combined with Sudbury strength and clever kicking, put Colchester under pressure.

A converted Sudbury try resulted and only good defence prevented the hosts from taking the lead before half-time.

Colchester upped their game in the second period, though, and spent almost the entire half in Sudbury territory.

Winger Harry Dudman ran in to extend Colchester’s lead and the result was sealed when hooker Adam Cook crashed over, with number eight Sam Easton completing the scoring late on.

A slightly under-strength under-13s development team beat Chelmsford B 22-17 in a competitive game.

Winger Jack Edwards opened the scoring, with tries by winger Robert Symonds and centre Dan Harding and a conversion by fly-half Liam Martin giving a 17-7 lead.

Chelmsford pressure saw them draw level after the break, but Colchester had the final say when quick ball through the back line allowed winger Anish Rajapkse to score his first try for the club to give Colchester the win.

Colchester’s UNDER-14s also faced Chelmsford and won 27-0. They led 15-0 at half-time with tries from Elliot Cryne, Rob Jex and Ben Gale and similar well-executed attacks after the break saw a try by Tom Hughes and another for Gale.

The under-14s B team won 33-5 at Chelmsford.

With eight boys playing for Eastern Counties and two for Essex, Colchester’s UNDER-15s played a combined A/B squad that beat Harlow.

After some strong forward play, Colchester opened the scoring with a try by back row forward, Joe Storey, which was converted by Joe Dodkins.

A second try came from Rob Jack, with Eddy Smith adding two more for a half-time 24-0 lead.

A number of substitutions came at the break and Harlow pressure told with a try, but a Stephen Moorhen try was converted by Dodkins to give a 31-5 victory.

Meanwhile, Colchester’s UNDER-16s have returned from a tour to Wales.

An opening game against Bon-Y-Maen ended in a 22-14 defeat, with Colchester’s tries coming from Connor Ibbotsan and Jo Tuthill and conversions by Ed Clarke A game of two halves followed at Gowerton, with the hosts leading 19-0 at half-time, before the tourists rallied.

However, despite two tries from Danny Higgins and ones by Sam Harman and George Shepherd, Gowerton scored another converted try to win 26-20.

The final day’s match was against a joint team from Dunvant and Mumbles, with some of the Colchester players starting to tire.

However, it was a close match between two evenly-matched teams and the visitors led 10-5 at the break after tries by Harman and Higgins.

A penalty by Clarke added to Colchester’s score in the second half, but the hosts added ten points to win 15-13.

FOR MORE PICTURES OF ACTION FROM COLCHESTER RUGBY CLUB'S YOUTH SECTION GAMES, CLICK ON THE YOUTH RUGBY PICTURES LINK ABOVE.