Colchester thrash South Woodham Ferrers 81-7

Danny Whiteman touches down for Colchester. Picture: RICHARD PARKER (Image: Archant)

Both winger Dave Brennan and centre Joe Flexman got hat-tricks whilst skipper Liam Pickett and centre Damien Brambley bagged two each.

Woodham kicked off and soon Colchester pressed forward and won their line-out close to the visitors’ tryline. Brambley weaved through the defence and fed Brennan, who scored a converted try in the corner after only three minutes of play.

Back came Woodham and a loose pass was intercepted by their left wing, who ran 50 metres to score a converted try which turned out to be Woodham’s only score of the afternoon.

The scores were now level but Colchester’s team strength soon told and before long they moved the ball left for lock Pickett to race over for his first try. Wing James Crozier missed the conversion but he was successful five minutes later when Brennan crossed for his second try.

Before long Brett Cutbush finished a clinical move by the Blacks to go over for the bonus point fourth try, which Crozier converted.

Next, Brambley jinked through the defence to score a great try and soon Liam Pickett claimed his second try.

Whiteman was next to cross, before Ollie Pickett touched down after a successful catch and drive line-out to make it 50-7 at the break.

Flexman scored twice more to gain his hat-trick in a man-of-the-match performance and Brennan added a third score as well.

Brambley got his second score after an impressive 50 metre weaving run. The Colchester front row of Joe McMillan, Rhys Hartley, Jerone Awesu or Joe Reid played exceptionally well, pushing back the Woodham scrum and charging forward in the loose.

This emphatic win maintains Colchester’s unbeaten home record and confirms their third place in the league with just one game to go.