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Match report: Cup final glory for Colchester As!
Doug Boulton29 Apr - 08:59
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By Edward Marriage
Colchester As put the icing on the cake of what has been a truly remarkable season for the club as they won the Suffolk Silver Cup in a ten-try demolition of Ipswich YM 2s.
With both the first and second teams promoted from their respective leagues as champions, Saturday’s 68-17 victory for the third team brought the curtain down on a season of success for the club’s senior men’s sides.
Playing in front of a sizeable and very vocal crowd at Raven Park, the 3s rarely looked in any difficulty as they powered past a spirited and never-say-die YM team.
Colchester were 14-0 up inside 12 minutes, full-back Miles Wilson-Bent twice storming over. Scrum-half Josh Mudge, playing his last game for the club, scored the third before Ipswich finally got on the board, two tries making it 21-12 on the half-hour.
A yellow card for a deliberate knock-on didn’t help the visitors’ cause, River Happer’s try making it 28-12 at the break.
Colchester really turned on the style in the second half. Sam Lines and James Fisher crossed before Wilson-Bent completed his hat-trick.
A yellow card for the hosts briefly disrupted Colchester’s momentum, YM scoring their third try on 66 minutes. But normal service soon resumed with further scores for James Tilley, Happer and Alex Harvey.
A near-faultless performance from the kicking tee saw Jack Edwards convert nine of the 10 tries.
The final whistle sparked delirium for the team and celebrations off the pitch as the team were presented with the cup.
Coach Roy Abrehart was a delighted man at the finish, praising the team’s organisation and shape throughout.
Tellingly, he put much of the team’s success this season – they also finished second in their league – down to the fact that they now regularly train with the first and second teams, benefiting from the input of first team coaches Craig Burrows and Mikey Haywood.
As the celebrations continues in the club house bar, the player-of-the-match award went to River Happer for his all-round performance and brace of tries.
So that brings to an end an extraordinary season for Colchester senior men’s rugby. But the hard work will continue off the pitch throughout the summer as plans are put in place for the new campaign, and what promises to be a memorable season as Colchester Rugby Club celebrates its centenary.
With both the first and second teams promoted from their respective leagues as champions, Saturday’s 68-17 victory for the third team brought the curtain down on a season of success for the club’s senior men’s sides.
Playing in front of a sizeable and very vocal crowd at Raven Park, the 3s rarely looked in any difficulty as they powered past a spirited and never-say-die YM team.
Colchester were 14-0 up inside 12 minutes, full-back Miles Wilson-Bent twice storming over. Scrum-half Josh Mudge, playing his last game for the club, scored the third before Ipswich finally got on the board, two tries making it 21-12 on the half-hour.
A yellow card for a deliberate knock-on didn’t help the visitors’ cause, River Happer’s try making it 28-12 at the break.
Colchester really turned on the style in the second half. Sam Lines and James Fisher crossed before Wilson-Bent completed his hat-trick.
A yellow card for the hosts briefly disrupted Colchester’s momentum, YM scoring their third try on 66 minutes. But normal service soon resumed with further scores for James Tilley, Happer and Alex Harvey.
A near-faultless performance from the kicking tee saw Jack Edwards convert nine of the 10 tries.
The final whistle sparked delirium for the team and celebrations off the pitch as the team were presented with the cup.
Coach Roy Abrehart was a delighted man at the finish, praising the team’s organisation and shape throughout.
Tellingly, he put much of the team’s success this season – they also finished second in their league – down to the fact that they now regularly train with the first and second teams, benefiting from the input of first team coaches Craig Burrows and Mikey Haywood.
As the celebrations continues in the club house bar, the player-of-the-match award went to River Happer for his all-round performance and brace of tries.
So that brings to an end an extraordinary season for Colchester senior men’s rugby. But the hard work will continue off the pitch throughout the summer as plans are put in place for the new campaign, and what promises to be a memorable season as Colchester Rugby Club celebrates its centenary.
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