The Blacks are home to high-flying Barnes in a key game at Raven Park (kick-off 3pm) and will head into the second half of the season with one goal: climbing the National 2 East league table.

Colchester have accumulated 11 points in their last five matches, including a win and a draw, and can even take a certain degree of encouragement from the 22-0 defeat at run-away league leaders Tonbridge in their last outing three weeks ago.

Saturday’s match will be a good gauge of how the team has progressed this season. Back in September, Colchester lost 36-20 at Barnes in their third match in the fourth level of English rugby.

That day, Colchester scored three tries and had several other chances but were ultimately undone by the Londoners’ unstoppable line-out maul which brought them four tries.

Barnes go into the weekend in third place in the league, 11 points behind leaders Tonbridge. They have lost just four times this season, their 14-7 home defeat to promotion rivals Dorking before Christmas particularly significant – and newsworthy.

The referee showed Barnes no fewer than eight cards – six yellow and two reds – leaving the club’s director of rugby Jack Heald frustrated about the issues surrounding the RFU’s laws lowering the height of tackles.

“I’ve never known a game to have so many cards and be so one-sided in that area,” Heald told The Rugby Paper. “The referees do a really important job at this level but it’s frustrating when a game that’s second against third has such a big imbalance regarding the cards within the contest.”

Colchester will hope to welcome back some first team regulars from injury for the match.
There’s a hugely challenging game for The Ravens too, as the 2s head to Counties One league leaders Norwich (kick-off 3pm).

The Ravens got back to winning ways with a fine 48-10 home win against North Walsham 2s last Saturday but will need to be at their very best to beat Norwich who have a perfect record this season of 14 try-bonus point wins out of 14.

Colchester 3s are at home to neighbours Sudbury 2s (kick-off 2pm) while the 4s make the short journey to Mistley 2s (2pm).

Colchester Colts are also in action on Saturday as they play their Cambridge counterparts at Grantchester Road (11am) in a warm-up for the match between England Under 20s and the Cambridge first team.

Wherever you are watching your rugby this weekend, please give the lads your loudest possible support!