Colchester travelled to Eton Manor determined to outscore their Essex rivals in their own backyard, something they hadn’t done for several seasons. The low-lying pitch at Nutter Lane was soft but playable and the game was well controlled by the referee.
There was no score for 25 minutes as the two sides tested each other out but the deadlock was broken when Colchester gained a scrum five metres out from Eton Manor’s line and, following several hard yards being gained by the forwards, the ball was whipped out by scrum half Brett Cutbush to wing Damien Brambley to outwit the defence for a fine score which James Crozier converted to put Colchester in the lead 0-7.

Ten minutes later the visitors added another seven points when a contested high ball was won by left wing James Crozier who raced 30 metres to score a converted try. From the restart Manor tried to break through the Black pack but to no avail. Changing their tactics, they moved the ball wide to their speedy right wing, who rounded Colchester’s Jaid Wiltshire to score in the corner bringing the score to 5-14.

Colchester retaliated immediately through Cutbush darting down the blind side from a scrum to score in the corner. Shortly after the restart, hooker Dan Brennan turned his ankle on the slippery surface and was replaced by Alex Mitchell. The score stayed at 5-19 until the interval when the coaching team decided to replaced Cutbush with Matt Wadling and move him to fullback to replace Wiltshire.

From the second half kick off the ball was moved to centre Matt Smith who gained 40 metres with a fine, elusive run that ended with Crozier scoring and converting the much-coveted fourth bonus point try. At 5-26 Colchester looked to be in full control of this match but lost their momentum when prop Jerone Awesu was yellow carded and, during his ten minute absence, the scrums had to be uncontested. During this period Manor moved the ball wide to their fullback, who broke through the Black’s defence, to score an unconverted try.

In the absence of a hooker, prop James Mitchell made a good job of throwing into the line linking with Soper, skipper Pickett and Flexman.

Before long Crozier, completed a well-earned hat trick sprinting thirty metres to score and convert his own try. Despite being 10-33 behind Manor never gave up and towards the end of full time one of their props managed to claim a consolation try to make the final score 15-33.