Colchester ran rampant in Ruislip, thirteen their lucky number of tries scored once again in an 83 points repeat of the previous week’s score. Ten players contributed scores in an awesome Colchester team display of running rugby, skipper Calum Irvine bagging five tries in his team’s twenty-third consecutive victory this season that sees Colchester averaging more than fifty points scored a game.

Fresh from an away win at fortress North Walsham in their previous game, Ruislip play adventurous running rugby and have proven difficult to beat at home, taking their share of the honours in close encounters against Colchester in recent seasons.

The visitors came very well prepared. Head coach Anthony O’Riordan has added a competitive confidence to the Colchester team with a determination to play high intensity rugby for the whole eighty minutes. Forward Coach Lee Soper’s pack dominated scrums, lineouts and loose play, Coach Nick Lloyd’s backs turning strong defence into rapid counterattack with pace, handling and angles of attack repeatedly breaching Ruislip’s defences.

Colchester started strongly, Harry Gozzett clear for the line but called back as the referee failed to allow advantage for a Ruislip knock on, the young flanker’s disappointment short lived when he raced from his own half to score the opening try on five minutes.

Ruislip rallied and moved upfield, aided by Colchester conceding penalties that saw hooker Charlie Thorogood sin-binned on the fifth consecutive infringement. A kick to the corner and lineout catch-and-drive try for flanker David Renback plus Connor Mullin’s conversion levelled the scores.

The response was immediate. David Higgins’ testing restart high kick was knocked into touch by Ruislip, Liam Picket’s lineout win setting the pack rumbling forward for Graeme Hay to touchdown. Despite restricted to seven, Colchester’s forwards disrupted a Ruislip scrum for scrumhalf Matt Wadling to kick into space, Danny Whiteman capturing and recycling ball for Calum Irvine to run in his first try. Another scrum turnover preceded ball whipped along the line where wing Damien Brambley stepped outside his marker to score the bonus point fourth try. From the restart, Higgins broke through the Ruislip line before wing James Crozier’s well taken kick and chase touchdown.

Ruislip played their way upfield, repeated phases edging forward until centre Connor Mullin stole in for a try. Irvine then charged down a clearance kick and recovered the loose ball for his second try and 12 – 36 halftime lead.

The second half saw Colchester up their game. Brambley turned creator, supporting scrumhalf Matt Wadling’s sniping break before sending Irvine in for his hat-trick try, then a crafty reverse pass assist for prop Joe McMillan’s thirty metre sprint for a try.

Replacement Joe Flexman broke down the wing before his inside pass for Irvine’s fourth. Flexman added his own try following Danny Whiteman’s determined drive from his own to the Ruislip 22 metre lines. Another fast paced Colchester team counterattack from their 22 culminated in Irvine’s fifth try of the game.

Charges by Colchester No. 8 George Liversedge and Hay setup fullback Brett Cutbush’s try before Liversedge crowned a good performance with his own bulldozing try, Higgins adding his ninth conversion.

Ruislip gamely attacked to the end, adding a third try by Sam Jones, converted by Mullin, to close the scoring 19-83.

Colchester remain league leaders with two games remaining in an exciting season climax - against third placed Chingford at home on 11th April then away to second placed Eton Manor on 18th April.

Gary Griffiths
Colchester RFC