Westcombe Park led by 24-15 at half time securing a try bonus point as well. Wing Tom Webster opened the scoring with a powerful run down the left, breaking tackles to score in the corner. Stand-off Gabe Jones got 3 points back for the visitors when Combe were pinged for offside right in front of the posts.

Hat-trick hero Toby Wallace, appearing on the wing on his return, scored his first try after good work from his elusive scrum half Mikel Davies and Nathan Wyman slotted the conversion. Colchester’s driving maul was a real weapon throughout the match and a score at the back of the drive made it 12-8. A long pass from Wyman provides Wallace’s second converted by Wyman. Lewis Jeffery scored Colchester’s third converted by Jones but Combe ended the half with a line out drive of their own finished off by hooker Callum Harris dotting down the bonus point try.

Colchester were first on the scoreboard in the second half when Combe coughed up a couple of penalties, Colchester elected to kick for the corner and were rewarded when Francois Roussouw touched down at the back of a maul. 2 minutes later Nick Cook’s tr completed a move he started with a charge down linking with lock Hugo McPherson to make it 29-22. But the visitors levelled the scores when Jones intercepted following some loose midfield play and touched down for a try which he converted.

Combe edged ahead when Wallace completed his hat trick sneaking in at the back of a maul to grab the ball and score. However Colchester belied their league position with a wave of pressure and went in front for the first time when centre Tom Hoppe took advantage of a quick tap to score, Jones’ conversion making it 34-36. But then came flanker Harry Hudson’s killer blow with the last play of the match to register a try from a line out to win a very close encounter.

A draw would probably have been a fair result in what was a hard-fought encounter and on the evidence it can’t be too long before the Essex side notch their first victory. Combe travel to Barnes next Saturday for what is always a tough ask.