Colchester Romans RUGBY LEAGUE

COLCHESTER ROMANS 36 IPSWICH RHINOS A 38
Saturday 21 May 

Colchester rugby club hosted their first ever competitive rugby league game with a London League game against local rivals and sister club Ipswich Rhinos A. To provide all year round rugby and to promote rugby league in North East Essex and Suffolk, Colchester have joined forces with Ipswich Rhinos.  

The cooperation between the two clubs means that training and playing opportunities will be available at both clubs, but the clubs will work together to give players the maximum playing opportunities and will both feed their best developing playing into the Ipswich Rhinos conference premier division side. To kick the season off the two feeder sides met in their first game of the season at Colchester’s Mill Road ground and whilst they may be sister clubs there was sufficient local rivalry to ensure a competitive entertaining game. 

The Roman took the lead after only two minutes through Mark Braidwood in an early demonstration of their superior psychical strength. Ipswich conceded a penalty 10 metres from their own line from which Colchester launched a series of big hits driving the Rhinos back until on the fourth tackle Braidwood crossed the try line. 

Ipswich leveled the score on 8 minutes from a penalty for not retreating 10 metres. The Rhinos moved the ball nicely through the hands across the width of the pitch to set up Peter Steadman in the corner for an unconverted try. The Rhinos soon added to their score when Chris Conner stole the ball in the centre of his own half and with a battling drive made the half way line before off loading to the Rhinos man of the match Dan Askew. Askew side stepped the remaining defenders before setting up Alliaster Leighton-Scott on the wing for a break away try down the wing and across under the posts. 

Paul Partrick’s  kick made it 10-4 to the Rhinos on an afternoon when a strong crosswind made conversions virtually impossible. 

In what was to be come a pattern for the afternoon a determined Colchester side hit back with two trys of their own to reverse the advantage at 12 –10.On 55 minutes from a tapped penalty Elliott Castle made considerable ground with a powerful drive, the ball then carried on by Braidwood to the foot of the Rhinos posts. With the Rhinos defence sucked in Colchester spread the ball wide and in a two on two situation sixteen year old Jason Hatcher easily split the defenders to score.  

From the restart Colchester quickly regained possession and immediately put the Rhinos under pressure. On the 5^th and last instead of kicking they spread the wide to Kyle Hutchins for his first try of the afternoon. 

However, the game was to swing back in the Rhinos favour before half time when Chris Conner capped a fine game with a try on 35 minutes. Lee Clasby showed a welcome return to fitness with a 20 metre drive to the line from a quickly taken penalty, Dan Askew scooting over from dummy half for a try on half time. Clasby converted to give the Rhinos a 20 –12 half time advantage. 

Colchester started the second half the stronger of the two sides and quickly reduced the deficit on 45 minutes through a second try from the impressive Braidwood who found space wide to step over and score unchallenged. 

From the restart surging runs from Mark Braidwood and Jonathan Vine set up Kyle Hutchins from 10 metres for his second try of the afternoon, for the Romans to level the scores at 20-20. 

Ipswich responded with a unconverted try from L Clasby who’s quick tap penalty caught out the Romans defence, but Colchester snatched back the lead in dramatic style when Ipswich dropped the ball on the 5^th tackle in front of the Romans posts. Colchester quickly worked the ball to the wing where 16 year old Kyle Hutchins capped a fine hat trick with a 60 metre break for the posts. The try was converted to give Colchester a 26 –24 advantage. 

Ipswich restored their lead on 63 minutes with an interception and 30 metre break from Jack Redish where he was awarded a penalty 5 metres from the Colchester line. From the penalty Dan Askew forced his way over from dummy half at the third attempt. Then from the restart excellent work again from Askew set up Paul Partrick for a break away try from half way which he convert himself to make the score 34 –26 to the Rhinos. 

Lesser inexperienced teams could have easily let their heads drop at this late stage of the game, but Colchester found the determination to fight back yet again. When awarded a penalty 10 metres in front of the Rhinos posts, Shane Steward capped a fine game forcing his way over under the posts for a converted try. Then with only 3 minutes remaining Mark Braidwood looked to have won the game for the Romans with a dramatic 40 metre run from the base of a scrum. To make the score 36 –34. 

From the restart the Rhinos threw everything into attack and looked to have saved the game when Paul Partrick powered his way over the line only for the Referee to rule out the try for not putting the ball down cleanly. However he was to have his moment of triumph when from the resultant penalty the Rhinos collected the ball, and in an excellent passage of passing rugby, moved the ball across the field for Partrick to score on the final whistle to make the final score Colchester Romans 36 – Ipswich Rhinos A 38. 

This was an excellent start to the season for both sides. Of the 35 or so players on the pitch only about a quarter had any previous rugby league experience which at times was evident in their appreciation of the laws of the game. However, there was no shortage of talent on display, which suggests that with a little match practice both sides will be very competitive in the London League.

Scorers
Tries: Braidwood 3, Hatcher, Hutchins 3, Steward
Cons: Hatcher 2