Fears of another washout were ill founded as Colchester’s First Team pitch was dry and firm and the weather breezy but dry. 2 minute’s silence before the match focussed minds on conflicts of an entirely different nature. Thoughts then turned to the encounter in hand; Colchester the formidable opposition that this Cambridge squad has never overcome.

Colchester started the brighter of the two teams and although our scrum was clearly superior, their backs seemed comfortable with the ball in hand and after 9 phases of play their large centre was through for a first try.

7 – 0

Cambridge hearts were stirred now and Colchester’s forwards were forced into making several errors penalised by the referee. Quick penalties by Tom Carpenter in successive moves added more pressure and Billy O’Reilly got to the Colchester try line, only to lose possession as he tried to ground the ball. Cambridge kept up the momentum and another quickly taken penalty exploited an overlap and good passing resulted in a try for winger Oliver Touhey.

7 – 5

For another 10 minutes it really was Cambridge’s game. Chris Ward was dominant at the front of the line-out, stealing Colchester ball and securing our own from the pin point accuracy of Toby Dean's throwing. Our scrum posed huge problems for Colchester and the experienced back division  were making in roads through Mike Green and Angus Mack. Strong tackling from James Palmer and Kyle Warwick among others. Awarded a penalty in kicking range Mike opts to kick but just misses the posts.

All the pressure and no points was a worrying position with Colchester so dangerous in counterattacking and Colchester managed to break out and score 2 tries before half time leaving the supporters thinking what might have been if Angus, James, Ben, Billy or Mike had managed to convert their scoring opportunities.

Half time 17 - 5

The second half started badly for Cambridge. A Cambridge put in at the scrum seemed to come straight out and Colchester’s No8 was the first to pick it up and dash for the try line from the 22m line. The referee had thought he had seen the ball  touch somebody,  but later was to apologise for his mistake.    

22 –5.

Cambridge persisted valiantly with Mike Green pushing close to the line but left without support allowed Colchester to clear their line and strong running led to a fifth try.

27 – 5

Colchester applied more pressure now, packing the three quarter line looking for overlaps and scoring opportunities. Some great tackling and running by Cambridge, notably Matt Mercer, Angus Mack, Jack Wilson and Ben Crowe couldn’t stop a sixth try by Colchester.

34 – 5

Cambridge’s second try was a dogged solo performance by Tom Carpenter. Picking up from a scrum deep in Colchester territory he went for the line, handing off tacklers as he went. Finding no direct route he kept going laterally, again fending off opponents one after another. I counted 8 hand offs as Tom sped along the try linelooking for a way in. And he duly found it. Well converted by Tom Cosnett.

34 –12

The last scoring action came from another impressive move from Colchester backs, with the winger just forcing over the line despite valiant tackling by Cambridge.

Final Score 39 – 12

Cambridge were beaten by the more creative team that supported each other a little better at the break down. It is marginal advantages like those which lead to big victories in Rugby.

Hal Wilson