Colchester and Canterbury fought out a 13-try classic of a match which, considering neither team had anything to play for, was far from just an end-of-season frolic in the sun.

With Colchester already relegated and Canterbury unassailable in fourth place in Nat 2 East, both teams could have been forgiven for going through the motions in their final league fixture.

But they were clearly in the mood to entertain, with plenty to enjoy as the lead changed hands four times, the visitors eventually running out 33-50 winners.

Illustrating the horrendous injury situation Colchester have experienced this season and the subsequent churn of players, just three of Colchester’s team started in the away fixture at Canterbury on the first day of the season.

Second team players Jack Gostling and George Acland-Shannon were given first team debuts, and both showed why the future of the club is in safe hands.

Canterbury, with a team peppered with ex-Premiership and Championship players, raced into an early lead through tries by Garry Jones, Eoin O’Donoghue and Henry Kenny.

The hosts were certainly in no mood to run up the white flag, and on their first significant foray into opposition territory Louis Martin and Cam Kerr combined to send scrum half Brett Cutbush over, Jack Edwards converting.

But when O’Donoghue scored Canterbury’s bonus point try just after the half hour it looked like the match might be over as a contest.

Not a bit of it. Captain Danny Whiteman jinked over from a well-executed training ground move on the stroke of half time to make it 14-22 at the break, and Colchester were fastest out of the blocks in the second half.

First Edwards belted over from a scrum penalty, then with Canterbury down to 14 players following a yellow card, the tireless Kerr – the only player to have featured in all 26 games this season - pulled another try back. Edwards’ conversion edged Colchester ahead 26-22.

Despite being further reduced to 13 following another yellow card, Canterbury scored, an interception gifting O’Donoghue his hat-trick.

By now the sides were swapping tries virtually at will, and Haydn Sykes regained the lead for Colchester following a patient build up, Edwards’ conversion making it 33-29 on the hour.

The home supporters dared to dream, but after Colchester squandered a gilt-edged chance in the right corner, it seemed horribly inevitable that the Kentish tide would sweep in.

Canterbury, showing their level four experience, duly wrapped things up through O’Donoghue’s fourth try and further scores by Tom Williams and Cameron MacMillan.

“Canterbury are a class side, and our guys have done an unbelievable job,” said head coach Mike Haywood, who is already planning for next season’s campaign back in level five.

“There haven’t been many games when we’ve been out-and-out cleaned out in terms of scorelines. Yes, we do go down to level five, but we’ve had a hell of a season.

“We haven’t scratched the surface here,” said Haywood. “The future is looking bright for Colchester. I’m excited for what the future holds.”

Brett Cutbush took player-of-the-match from sponsors Marcon Construction, while the coach’s award, from The Lexden Crown and Amnesia Flowers, went to Sean Bundy.

The threes came up short in the Suffolk Silver Cup final, losing 19-57 to a strong Sudbury 2s.