Harwich & Dovercourt RUFC traveled to Colchester on Saturday looking to cause an upset in the promotion play-off game, the winner going on to play in Eastern Counties 1 next season. With barely any grass on the pitch and a lovely hot summer's day, this promised to be a hard and fast game of rugby.

From the start Colchester had the better of the game. For the first 20 minutes Harwich looked stunned and missed too many first up tackles. This allowed Colchester to score two tries, one converted for a quick 12-0 lead much to the delight of the home supporters.

Harwich however clawed their way back into the game using their dominant scrum, as has been the case all season, to keep Colchester on the back foot and keep a steady supply of ball to the impressive Sean Mills Jnr playing at fly half.

With all the pressure on their line Colchester were starting to make mistakes. From another dominant scrum Simon Palmer picked and went, dragging three defenders over the line to score an unconverted try. The game was now up for grabs as Colchester took a 12-5 into halftime.

Harwich started the second half where they left off the first, using their impressive scrum to bully the Colchester pack. In a repeat of the first half Palmer again picked and went running at a retreating Colchester defence to score a converted try ,12 all.

Colchester brought the game back to Harwich but with a dominant scrum and loose forwards George Brunning, David Parkin and Palmer tackling their hearts out they were being kept at bay. Colchester to their credit managed to maintain possession and turned the pressure on Harwich causing the visitors to concede a string of penalties. From a 5 metre lineout Colchester then managed to maul the ball over the Harwich line to score a try and with the conversion nearly in front of the posts Colchester took back the lead, 19-12.

Harwich fought back again, using the ball they managed get it out wide to 18-year-old Josh Newlyn on the wing who scored a great team try in the corner, with the conversion on target but just short Harwich still trailed by two points, 19-17.

Harwich continued to throw everything they had at the Colchester defence which stood firm. Unfortunately, time ran out for the Harwich side and Colchester celebrated the victory and well deserved promotion with their home supporters. In the end the 12-point start Harwich gave Colchester was the difference between the two sides. Harwich however deserve credit for making the game a joy to watch and being in the game as long as they were after only a week's preparation.

Harwich can now enjoy their off season before launching another attack on promotion in whichever league they may find themselves in.