COLCHESTER Rugby Club's players will rue unforced errors and a high penalty count as a chance to claim their first win in National 2 rugby slipped away, writes EDWARD MARRIAGE.

The Blacks lost 38-19 to an efficient but far from flawless Old Albanians team.

On the plus side, Colchester scored three tries giving them a creditable total of 12 in their opening four matches.

Less positively, they have conceded 26 so far this season as teams with greater National League experience pounce on the slightest error.

As at Barnes the previous week, scoring opportunities infuriatingly went begging while any slip was ruthlessly punished.

Colchester RC head coach Craig Burrows said: “It was silly mistakes once again, and our discipline was awful.

“We gave away far too many penalties.

“We got into good areas but then didn’t execute. The backs looked dangerous with ball in hand, but they didn’t get it enough.

“It’s back to the drawing board and we’ll work hard and stay positive. The win is coming.”

Before the match the players, including two debutant loanees from Cambridge, Charlie Friend and Ashton Webb, got a pep talk from Colchester’s Olympic boxing medallist Lewis Richardson who was a guest of the club.

On a perfect afternoon for rugby, the Blacks started brightly but found themselves 14-0 down inside the first quarter as tries by openside Archie Radovanovic and scrum-half Bailey Thomas were converted by Sam Jones.

On the half hour, Colchester got on the board as prop Leroy O’Neil, on for Lewis Jeffery, latched on to a storming break by Ross Taylor. The try went unconverted.

Joe Bridger’s try gave the visitors a 19-5 lead at the break, Colchester ringing the changes with Dan Lewis replacing Sam Easton and Webb on for his debut in place of Oli Pickett.

OAs attacked with intent after the break, but Colchester’s defence held firm, though their cause was not helped by captain Corey Button being dispatched to the sin bin for a no-arms tackle.

Despite their reduced numbers, Colchester now enjoyed their best spell of the match, a patient build-up leading to Lewis’s debut try for the first team, Fin Creighton converting.

Directly from the restart, there was the definition of a “coach-killer” as Colchester allowed Jones in for the visitors’ bonus point try.

But the hosts soon had their third, as Francois Rossouw touched down from close range and Creighton converted.

At 24-19 and seemingly with a foothold, Colchester frustratingly let their opponents back in, Toby Ponsford’s converted try making it 31-19.

With Cam Kerr on for Danny Whiteman, Colchester pushed for what would have been a valuable try bonus point.

But after patiently recycling the ball through the forwards on the OA’s try line, it went wide only to be intercepted by full back Alex Noot who went the length of the field to wrap things up for the visitors.

Scott Lloyd won the player-of-the-match award from match sponsors Howdens Insurance, while Leroy O’Neil took the coaches’ award courtesy of The Lexden Crown.

Colchester’s quest for a first win continues at near neighbours Bury on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

The Ravens trailed 29-17 after 63 minutes of their league match at North Walsham when the referee went off injured, the result standing as more than an hour had been played.

The thirds won 43-26 at Felixstowe.

Colchester: Varela, O’Reilly, Bodkin, Lloyd, Taylor, Button ©, Creighton; C Jeffery, Rossouw, L Jeffery, Easton, Friend, O Pickett, Whiteman, Tabuatamata. Reps: O’Neil, Kerr, Lewis, Webb, Dorasamy.