On paper, this fixture should have been a walkover for Wimbledon, the league’s leading point scorers who are chasing promotion and who embarrassed Colchester 62-7 in the November away fixture. However, Colchester surprised their visitors by playing with commitment and skills that belied their lowly league placing.

Rush defence disrupted Wimbledon possession throughout the game as the Colchester pack redeemed themselves after a poor last home display. The men in black won turnovers at breakdowns and lineout, overcoming a weight disadvantage by shifting scrum ball quickly to their threatening fast backs.

Wimbledon started and finished the game strongly, displaying the handling and organisational skills that have made them contenders for the automatic promotion top spot this season.

From the start, Wimbledon’s forwards and backs combined well, moving the ball in hand to good effect and forcing Colchester into retreat, culminating in a try for centre Jack Reville and lineout catch and drive try for prop Phil Viane, Wimbledon flyhalf and skipper Bryan Croke adding both conversions to lead 0:14 in as many minutes.

Colchester rallied, Eli Castle taking the restart kick, busy flanker turned lock Rob Pickard driving on and catching a retreating Wimbledon offside, James Crozier converting the 3 points.

Then Colchester centre Te Albert was sin binned for stepping on an opponent lying on the ball. However, instead of conceding more points the Colchester players stepped up their game whilst Wimbledon’s points and player advantage appeared to make them complacent.

Prop Jerone Awesu won turnover ball, fellow prop Joe McMillan rumbling close to the line before skipper Brett Cutbush squeezed over in the corner for Colchester’s opening try.

Crozier twice broke down the wing, the first brought back for a forward pass but the second drawing Wimbledon’s defence before setting fullback Harry Barton to race in a try, Crozier’s conversion putting 14-man Colchester into the lead 15:14.

The game then ebbed and flowed, Colchester denying Wimbledon ball, time and room to play. Flyhalf David Higgins boomed kicks over the Wimbledon defence, home debutant Julian Chamberlain-Carter combining defence and attack alongside Te Albert and the mazy runs of Damo Brambley. Colchester hooker Alex Rayment earned his man of the match award with many charges to set up attacking positions, ably supported by the hard working back row of Danny Whiteman, Ben Murphy and Joe Beckett.

Wimbledon got the scoreboard moving again in the 65th minute when Croke kicked an offside penalty. Colchester restored their lead 2 minutes later when Higgins converted an offside penalty.

The strength of the Wimbledon squad then told as their replacements added vigour in the final stages. Croke’s final penalty and conversions of two late lineout catch and drive tries for lock Shawn Renwick flattered and sealed the Wimbledon bonus point win against a plucky but proud Colchester team.

Gary Griffiths, Colchester RFC