Colchester were the authors of their own misfortune in an error strewn first half display that allowed Westcliff to build a three try lead before a second half rally saw Colchester close to within two points but left with a losing bonus point and rue another game they could have won.

This was a need to win game for both teams with Westcliff recording the only win this season from both teams. The pressure told as despite being played in bright autumn sunshine, neither team played sparkling rugby.

Westcliff ground out a win by making fewer errors than their visitors. Relying on their larger pack to win and retain ball, Westcliff’s rush defence pressed Colchester and profited from errors. In a poor first half display Colchester frustratingly squandered possession with poor passes, fumbles and missed tackles, leaving too much to do for their late revival.

Nerves showed from the start. Colchester knocked the kick off back to their hosts, the Westcliff pack driving the Colchester scrum backwards in the first scrum - a foretaste of what was to follow. Yet Colchester opened the scoring. Colchester kicked upfield, speedy winger James Crozier chasing down the covering defender and winning a penalty for not releasing the ball in the tackle before stepping up to calmly kick Colchester into an early lead.

The restart kick was again lost and the Westcliff pack rumbled forward, dragging in defenders to create space for an angled run by centre John Rudd to breach the Colchester defence and close to the line, lock James Scoggins driving over for the unconverted try.

Pressure from Westcliff and unforced errors led to Colchester conceding a series of penalties. From a penalty scrum No.8 Joe Vandermolen ran in a try under the posts, Jack Jones converting. Three missed tackles allowed Westcliff fullback Chris Dudman to waltz in a try Jones converted for the halftime lead 19:03.

The second half saw a reinvigorated Colchester team raise their game. Wing Damien Brambley used his speed and sidestep to create gaps, centre Brandon Fanolua’s direct running drawing tacklers. Skipper Liam Pickett rallied his pack who began to drove their opponents backwards, forcing Westcliff to concede ground and penalties. Colchester replacement flyhalf David Higgins placed a deft kick to the corner where unmarked fullback Tom Miller leapt to seize the ball one-handed before crossing for a try, Crozier adding the conversion.

Colchester continued to improve, Brambley and flanker Rob Pickard combining to break up the right, Westcliff committing penalties to try and stop their visitors from crossing their line. Flanker Ollie Pickett crowned a hard working display of tackling and carrying to bulldoze his way over for a try, Crozier’s conversion closing the score to just two points with ten minutes to play.

Close but no further was Westcliff’s response as their pack clung onto ball, rumbling into the Colchester half where a knock-on at the line ended the contest with a narrow win for home team, leaving Colchester yet again to rue what could have been.