Try, Try and Try Again

First Half

But not for the Saxons. A warm windless day being played on 2nd placed Colchester astro turf pitch, an unfamiliar surface for league leaders Southend. However, after only one minute of play they stormed over the Colchester try line and touched down. The successful conversion took them into a very early and unexpected lead at 0 – 7.

Within two minutes Colchester replied with a converted try of their own when they raced forward dodging and breaking attempted tackles from the Saxons defence. 7 – 7.

An early knee injury to Saxon inside centre Manni Mazuzu saw him supported off the field to be replaced by Nick Horton

It was to be the first of 10 unprecedented try’s for Colchester in the first half. They scored almost every time they possessed the ball, either from kicks or turnovers. The Saxons defence could not cope with the agility, dexterity and speed of the Colchester players. They did manage one more try of their own after making touch with a penalty kick just short of the Colchester try line, they won the line out, mauled forward and exchanged a couple of quick passes. The touchdown and conversion took the score to 45 – 14 after 28 minutes.

The first half finished after Colchester added another three try’s all very similar to the seven previous ones taking the score to 68 – 14.

Second Half.

With the game lost Southend only hope of taking something from the game was to score two more try’s of their own. It was made even more difficult to achieve after our winger Tom Ramsey was taken off the field with what looked like a serious injury to his knee as well.

Colchester scored their eleventh try straight from the restart and another four, one of which was from their number 8 who collected the ball in his own half, evaded and broke through a couple of tackles, then out paced the Southend backs to touch down.

So, with 10 minutes to go the score stood at 99 – 14 to Colchester and looking as though Southend would return home with nothing to show, which for many would be a humiliating defeat. But just after Colchester took their score to 99 the Tannoy announcer’s voice rang out over the ground  ‘I’m not sure what we can do about this but our score board does not go above one hundred, we’ll just have to keep counting’

Whether this was what galvanised the Saxons will never be known but they suddenly upped their game and spent those last ten minutes in Colchester’s half and scoring the two more try’s they needed to take one point home, as well as leaving the their fans still wondering if their score board would go above 100!!

After an enjoyable lunch and a welcoming greeting and hospitality from their President Kieron and Chairman Carl. Southend supporters, whilst accepting that Colchester were favourites to win this game and probably the league, had hoped that this game would have been much more competitive.

This result leaves the Saxons with 21 points and in third place in the league on points difference. Next week back on track and another away game at Hertford who are currently eleventh with 6 points.

AG