Harwich Push Colchester All The Way

Harwich were the underdogs in this fixture considering Colchester's form and playing resources, so a very hard game was expected.

Harwich kicked off and Colchester tried to attack from the outset but Harwich's defence held firm. After clearing from their try-line Colchester were awarded a scrum on the halfway, however Harwich disrupted and won the ball against the head. The first 20 minutes carried on in the same vane, with Colchester attacking and Harwich disrupting and counter-attacking.

After a missed penalty for Harwich their captain Kyle Hutchins was forced to leave the pitch with an injured thigh to be replaced by Rob Kemp. On the half-hour mark hooker Shane Manning stupidly retaliated to the Colchester tight-head prop and after a few punches were thrown both players were red carded, Manning left to reflect on a moment of madness from the sideline. Colchester then managed to score two tries (one converted) late in the half to leave the half time score 12-0 to Colchester.

Robert Wood and Sam Male then entered the fray at half time. The second half resumed with Colchester scoring an unconverted try to take a 17-0 lead.

After some inspiring words from evergreen prop Clark Simpson, Harwich came out giving everything they had. Excellent defence from Robert Edgar, Adrian Dalby and Joe Sciberas playing his last game for Harwich, held Colchester at bay.

The rest of the half saw Harwich defending and attacking with some promise only for Colchester to make the tackles that stopped Harwich in their tracks. Colchester scored two more tries, one converted, then Harwich got their deserved try. A break down the blind-side by Josh Jones saw the supporting Edgar score an excellent unconverted try to leave the final score 29-5.

Colchester were deserved winners but Harwich pushed their more fancied rivals the whole game. If Harwich can continue this sort of progression and continue to improve there is no reason why the return fixture won't have a reversed score line. Match report by Shane Manning.