Colchester left it late to overcome a passionate Mersea Island side in a thrilling game.

Colchester fielded a young side that included 17-year-old debutant Mark Braidwood at flanker and two 18-year-olds. Andy Cryne and Seru Rainima were also playing their first league games for their new club.

Colchester were on the offensive straight away, keeping Mersea in their own half. The All Blacks recycled possession well and probed the Mersea back line, but the Islanders defence held firm.

Colchester edged ahead in the 18th minute with a 25-metre penalty kick from scrum-half James Gee.

Colchester were enjoying the lion's share of possession, and although play was almost exclusively in Mersea's half Colchester could not break through due to a combination of good defence, handling errors and poor decision making.

With the half coming to a close Mersea attacked and got into the Colchester 22.

A sliced clearance was gathered by Mersea and a series of quick passes saw fly-half Jon Williams find space to touch down under the posts, his conversion gave the Islanders a 7-3 half-time lead.

The second half saw Mersea use their momentum to put Colchester under severe pressure, Williams intelligently kicking for touch to keep the All Blacks pinned in their 22.

For 20 minutes Mersea were encamped in Colchester's half but they could not find a way through.

The turning point came when Colchester pushed the Mersea scrum off their own ball.

Mersea were now finding it difficult to win their own scrum and were gradually retreating back into their own 22.

Mersea conceded a penalty five metres from their line and Gee spun the ball along the line where centre Andy Cryne broke through to score, Gee's conversion gave Colchester a 10-7 lead with ten minutes to go.

A Gee penalty extended the lead to 13-7.

Published Tuesday, September 14, 2004

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