Harwich lose out in close encounter

With heavy conditions under foot and wind and light rain forecast a war of attrition would decide the victor. From the first kick off the supporters could see this was going to be a tough game for both sides as neither would give an inch in defence or attack.

Harwich were having more of the territory and managed to heap pressure on the Colchester line.  The pressure caused Colchester to give away a number of penalties which saw Sam Male convert one of these in tricky kicking conditions to give Harwich a narrow 3-0 lead.

This sparked Colchester into life as they went on the attack in the Harwich 22. From a penalty Colchester levelled things up at 3 points a piece. The home side then regained control and camped themselves in the Colchester half. With the Harwich front row of George Woodley, Shane Manning and Paul Sewell dominating the scrums Harwich were able to keep the Colchester side from getting any quality ball to clear their lines.

Harwich were also being kept on the front by some repeated hard running from Simon Palmer, Woodley and Robert Edgar. This caused Colchester to give away another penalty which Male converted to bring an end to the first half and Harwich had a slender 6-3 lead.

After the halftime break Colchester came out full of energy and immediately were camped on the Harwich try line. Wave after wave of attack was pushed back by the Harwich team. Harwich then managed to clear their line and took play deep into the Colchester 22. Harwich were now returning the favour of having constant waves of attack. From 10 metres out Simon Palmer went on a trade mark run, with no less than four Colchester players clinging to him he managed to stretch out and score the first try of the game. With the conversion missed Harwich were now leading by 11-3.

With 20 minutes to go the home supporters were hoping their side could hold on. Colchester were now playing with a new intensity and were having success with long kicks turning the Harwich side around. From a ruck in the Harwich 22 Colchester gained a kickable penalty for the tackler not rolling away, the Colchester kicker calmly converted for a 11-6 score line.

Harwich had started to lose composure and were making silly mistakes. Colchester yet again lay siege to the Harwich line and managed to squeeze over for a well deserved try. The score was now locked together at 11 points all and Colchester had the conversion to come. Their kicker yet again calmly slotted the conversion for 13-11 lead and time running out for Harwich.

The Harwich side pushed for a match winning score but Colchester's defence was too solid. Forced to move the ball in adverse conditions, mistakes were continually made by Harwich who now were getting desperate. As the referee announced it was the last play, Harwich failed to win their lineout and Colchester kicked for touch bringing an end to an excellent contest.

Colchester were deserved winners on the day and now will surely go on to win the league and claim the promotion play off spot. Harwich were left to wonder at what could have been. The Low Road side now has to regroup before they then entertain local rivals Mistley at home in two weeks.

Report by Shane Manning