Colchester show their ‘six-appeal’!

Colchester's Dan Whiteman breaks for the line against Amersham. Photo: RICHARD PARKER (Image: Archant)

In dry and calm conditions ideal for their style of play Colchester treated their home crowd to a brilliant victory by six tries to three over their rivals Chiltern who had beaten them 19-10 earlier in the season, writes Steve Whiteman.

Once again kicker James Crozier was in fine form converting all of the tries and scoring one for himself.

This result maintains the Blacks 100% home record and puts them level with Chiltern in third place but with a game in hand as the twice postponed fixture against Fullerians will now be played on Good Friday at Mill Road at 3pm.

Colchester fielded an unchanged pack and the backs included incomers Jack White and George Liversidge. When substitutes prop Alex Mitchell, scrum half Brett Cutbush and debutant forward Tom Gallagher joined the fray later in the game they all performed well

Chiltern got the game underway and within five minutes put their loose head prop over for a converted try. Colchester quickly replied at the other end of the pitch when, following a successful scrum, scrum half Matt Wadling kicked through the defence for flanker Ollie Pickett to touch down.

From a dangerous attack by Chiltern the ball was moved along their backs only for quick thinking Crozier to intercept the last pass and run the length of the field to score a great opportunist try.

This score raised the team and for the rest of the half Colchester were on the front foot. Full back Will Brown and wing Damien Brambley caught the eye with their turn of speed and accurate kicking.

Just before half-time the deadlock was broken when Harrison Pickett came off the back of a scrum, fed Brown who linked with Brambley who sprinted 50 metres to score putting the Blacks 21-7 ahead at the interval.

Early in the second half open side flanker Danny Whiteman soon scored the bonus point try. Later he got his second when he grabbed a ball at the back of a line-out and sprinted 40 metres to score again. Chiltern scored twice through their lock and their winger as the Blacks eased off the pressure, but Hartley scored the final try for the home side.