EASTERN COUNTIES COLTS CUP
COLCHESTER COLTS 36 BURY ST EDMUNDS COLTS 17
Sunday 20 February

Colchester proceeded to the semi finals of the Eastern Counties Colts Cup as group winners following a competent if uninspiring performance to beat Bury St Edmunds.  Colchester kicked off with a bitterly cold wind at their backs, and Bury had to cope with a snow shower in their faces.  The early exchanges were even, but gradually Colchester's bigger forwards began to get the upper hand, and with fifteen minutes gone Colchester stole a Bury lineout and drove 20 metres to the try line for the opening score.  Colchester continued to keep Bury in their own half, but a breakaway by the Bury wing saw the Suffolk side on even terms after 26 minutes.

Colchester hit back by winning the ball from a Bury scrum and good rucking saw them a metre short of the Bury line.  An offside gave the All Blacks a penalty and it was quickly passed to full back Hywel Abbott for Colchester's second try.  Almost straight away Colchester were on the scoresheet again when fly half Calum Irvine made a break before flanker Ollie Morgan went over to make the half time score 19-5.

With the wind advantage in the second half Bury kicked for territory, but Colchester ran the ball back to keep on the offensive.  The game was much more even with neither side able to find a way through, until lock Richard Smith took on the Bury defence and ran 20 metres to score by the posts.  To Bury's credit they continued to compete and were rewarded with a second try with fifteen minutes to go, but Colchester came straight back when No 8 Scott Warner picked up from a scrum and charged for the line, popping the ball to stand in scrum half Stuart Bradley to go over.  An interception saw Bury score their third try, but the final word went to Colchester and Richard Smith who scored his second try to give his side a 36-17 victory.

Colchester won't know their semi-final opponents until after the last round of games are played on 6 March.

                               

---

WOODFORD COLTS 0 COLCHESTER COLTS 48
Sunday 13 February

Following the 'walk over' in the National Colts Plate v Romford & Gidea Park, Colchester managed to pick up a friendly v Woodford. Some Colchester Colts decided to play representative rugby or in some cases take a weeks rest due to minor injuries.  So a 'scratch' team of only 15 players travelled to Woodford including three U17's.

Even though the game was played on the 1st team pitch, the conditions were marginal as to whether it could take place due to the condition of the ground. The game kicked off with Woodford kicking into the wind. With the heavy surface and swirling wind, both teams found it hard to settle down. The All Blacks however settled down quicker and their forwards soon got the measure of the opposition. Following several big drives, scrum half Tom Harwood got the ball out down the line which allowed Dominic Gooch in the centre to run through for the first try, converted by Max Woodcock. The Woodford restart was not good, allowing Colchester to recycle the ball many times allowing Gooch to run in for his second try of the game. Chris Gray, an U17 hooker playing out of position at wing and on his debut for the Colts then managed to get the ball following some expansive play by Colchester resulting in a try for him.

Mark Braidwood with all his power as no. 8 then crashed through in a solo effort to score under the posts. Max Woodcock again converted. To finish the half, two minutes before the whistle, hooker Murray Wilson supported by his forwards caused a pushover try making the half time score - Woodford 0 Colchester 29.

 

Within 2 minutes of the kick off, flanker Kyle Lambert crashed through with a try which Max Woodcock converted. Woodford's heads had now gone down at this point, with the All Black backs running amuck, scrum half Tom Harwood snuck in for a try. Five minutes later, with the pack rolling forward, prop David Morgan got the ball and with superb support grounded the ball over the opposition line under the posts. Max Woodcock duly obliged with the conversion. Following a discussion with both managers and the referee, it was agreed to stop the match 20 minutes into the second half.

With Woodford due to go up against Romford & Gidea Park in the final of the Essex Cup next week, the All Blacks look forward to playing Bury St Edmunds in the Eastern Counties Cup.

The fourth round game between Harlow and Colchester was due to take place in mid December, but due to fixture clashes on both sides it was not possible to play it until January. Even then, it was not possible to play it on a Sunday and had to be played midweek under lights. Harlow not having lights, the fixture was played at Bancroft RFC.

 

On a very clear night, the All Blacks took the field following a journey through the rush hour traffic. From the start, it was obvious that the game was going to be a very physical one. Following some very intense play amongst the forwards, Colchester winger David Smith broke away and scored one of his characteristic tries not far from the posts. Unfortunately, fly half Max Woodcock was unable to add the two points.

 

Unphased, Harlow went on the attack, and converted a penalty to bring the game alive. Within a few minutes, Harlow created a breakaway situation, and seemed destined to score, but David Smith pulled back the potential try scorer which resulted in a penalty try which was converted and 10 minutes in 'the bin' for Mr. Smith. During this period, Harlow used the advantage scoring another try to give them a 15-5 lead, but the All Black forwards retaliated with a push over try scored by prop Andy Marshall.

 

In the second half, the All Blacks came out with much more vigour. Following some amazing play by the Colchester forwards, scrum half Tom Harwood darted through the Harlow defence scoring a very well taken try. The All Blacks continued the pressure with Harlow holding up extremely well, but finally winger David Smith scored his second for the night, making the final score: Harlow 15 Colchester 20.

 

Colchester now go into the next round to be played at Mill Road on 23rd January against Upminster, where a win would see them through to the last 32 in this National competition.

On a chilly overcast morning, a Colchester Colts team took the field against the London Welsh Academy team in the third round of the National Colts Cup. Having disposed of Holt and Upminster in previous rounds, the All Blacks were looking forward to playing a team probably a league above them. However, during the week, with injuries to Captain Calum Irvine, No.8 Mark Braidwood and the call up to Eastern Counties of other players, Colchester took the field with a far from full strength squad. Four U17's were called up to strengthen the team.

 

With a Colchester kick off, the All Blacks took the game to the Welsh, and within 3 minutes, No.12 Matt Delany took the hosts into a 3 - 0 lead with a penalty in front of the posts. However, this seemed to wake the opposition with three tries and conversions being scored in quick succession. Colchester replied with a try by second row Matt Francis with a conversion by Matt Delany. The Welsh finished the half with another try and conversion, making the half time score: Colchester 10 London Welsh 28.

 

Within 30 seconds of the second half whistle, London Welsh scored flagging up what was to be somewhat  of a 'one way street' . Colchester scrum half Tom Harwood grabbed a crash try when the All Blacks were putting pressure on the Welsh try line. Apart from that, the opposition ran through try after try, all being converted. Their last try/conversion followed  five minute pressure play on the Welsh line, with a breakaway try by one of their flankers intercepting a Colchester pass and running the length of the pitch and scoring under the posts. Final score: Colchester 15 London Welsh 63.

 

The victors now go forward to the last 32 of the Cup, while Colchester go into the Plate competition where they are drawn away to Harlow.. 

Following a very surprising withdrawal by Cambridge in the first round of the National Colts Cup, Upminster came to Mill Road unaware of what to expect from the Colchester All Blacks. From the kick off, Colchester immediately put pressure on their opposition playing the first ten minutes in their half. After some skilful forward play, flanker Ben Hogston crashed over for the first try, which centre Matt Delany converted. All the play went Colchester's way with the back's running through their opposition culminating with U17 winger David Smith running through for his first try. Delany converted again. Following a pushover try from prop David Morgan and another Delany conversion, the 'David Smith show' then commenced with three tries on the trot going over with three conversions from Delany. Just before half time, fullback Hywel Abbott ran at least 25 metres to score a try in the corner, making the score 45 - 0 to Colchester at the break.

 

Within 3 minutes of the second half, winger Freddy Burgess ran through a scintillating try. Under the rules of the competition, the match should have finished at 50 - 0. However, the brave Upminster team agreed to continue on a 'friendly' basis, but with David Smith adding two more tries and another from Freddy Burgess, the visitors agreed to finish the game with the final score after 50 minutes play: Colchester 67 Upminster 0.

Colchester's reward for beating Upminster is a home third round tie against London Welsh.

COLTS TOUR OF HUNGARY

Following a 7am start from Stansted Airport, Colchester Colts landed in Budapest for their 2004 Tour to Hungary. Captain Calum Irvine accompanied the team although unable to play due to injury. This left the squad with just 17 players. The two hour journey to their first fixture was made in heavy rain. Kick off was set for 4pm, so the players had just 45 minutes to warm up. Travelling with them was London Society and Colchester Club member Ross Cowie who had been invited by the Hungarian RU to referee the two tour matches and a Hungarian 7's Tournament on the Saturday.

 

The pitch at Esztergom was somewhat different. Apart from it being right on the borders of Hungary and Slovakia, it is probably the only one to have a huge tree in the dead ball area at one end. The match started with the All Backs taking the game to the hosts. Most of the play was in the Esztergom half, which after 8 minutes resulted in the try for second row Richard Smith. It was clear although the home team were very good on defence, they lacked the basics when it came to making use of the ball when they had the chance. Captain for the day, scrum half Tom Harwood then led by example and sidestepped himself into a try scoring position right in front of the posts which centre Matthew Delany dually converted. Shortly before half time, after more forward pressure, prop David Morgan crashed over for a try. Half time - 17 - 0 to the visitors.

 

In the second half from the off, Esztergom played with much more vigour, but try as they would, they could not break through the Colchester Colts defence. Tom Harwood put more points on the board by going through six players to score. Again, Delany converted. The rain eased and in the last seconds of the game, Harwood scored again making the final score, Esztergom 0 Colchester 29.

 

Saturday was a rest day, and the team spent it taking in some of the culture of Budapest city!

 

Sunday saw a rather tired Colchester team make it's way to Hungarian League champions, Kecskemet. This club is based south of the capital, not many miles from Romania. The day was dry, and the home team were very much up to the challenge. However once the whistle blew for the start of the game, the tourists went at their opponents. Throughout the first half, the All Blacks kept Kecskemet in their own half, and amassed five tries and two conversions, to make the score at half time 29 - 0 to the visitors.

 

In the second half, the game really came to life with Colchester showing the far superior quality of their technique and ball skills. The home team could make no impression on a far stronger and tighter All Black squad, who put another 26 points on the board making the score at the final whistle Kecskemet 0 Colchester 55.

 

A very successful tour, with players, coaches and accompanying adults having a great weekend.