COLCHESTER 14

OLD HABERDASHERS 8

London League One North

COLCHESTER remain in touch with the league leaders after seeing off lowly Old Haberdashers at Mill Road.

But the third-placed Blacks were made to work hard for their victory by the visitors, who have won only once this season.

Skipper Liam Pickett and hooker Simon Gray were both absent with debutant Rory Miller and Tom Dales replacing them, while Harrison Pickett was on the bench for his first game of the season.

Old Haberdashers kicked off and Colchester immediately came back into their half.

Soon the visitors gained a turnover and their inside centre made a dash for the Blacks' try-line, only to be stopped in his tracks by fullback Will Brown.

Then Miller stole the ball from an Old Haberdashers' lineout and linked with man-of-the match prop James Mitchell, who made 20 metres and forced a scrum.

The Old Haberdashers' scrum half put in a box kick which Brown deftly gathered and soon was up the other end, scoring an unconverted try.

Old Haberdashers quickly replied when they attacked from the base of a scrum and their fullback went over to even the score at 5-5.

There then followed a period of end-to-end play, with both teams trying to assert their authority.

The impasse was broken when Colchester were awarded a penalty in the middle of the visitors half and wing James Crozier slotted over the first of three successful penalties.

But if the home crowd were expecting a sudden surge in front by the Blacks, they were to be disappointed.

Old Haberdashers raised their game and it was proving to be a difficult contest.

Props Mitchell and Joe McMillan were outstanding in the tight and loose aspects of the game and following a charge lead by them, Colchester won another successful penalty.

With the score 11-5, the hosts were a little bit more comfortable going in at half-time.

Jerone Awesu replaced Tom Dales in Colchester's front row and Harrison Pickett took his brother’s place at Number Eight while Ollie Pickett went on the flank at the expense of Joe Beckett.

The game restarted and centres George Liversidge and Shelford Meads worked hard to break through the defence.

Half-backs Matt Wadling and Brett Cutbush also tried several moves but the Old Haberdashers' defence held up.

For the 20 minutes that followed, the contest developed into cut and thrust by both teams, with defences repelling many attacks.

Harrison Pickett made his presence felt at Number Eight, often charging forward from the back of the Blacks pack.

Old Haberdashers maintained the pressure but Colchester’s defence, particularly in the back row, was equal to the task. The visitors' fly-half successfully converted a penalty in the dying stages but Colchester claimed a narrow win.