COLCHESTER Rugby Club's hopes of building on the previous week’s morale-boosting win at Sevenoaks disintegrated in the face of Storm Bert after they lost 20-14 to Worthing at Raven Park, writes EDWARD MARRIAGE.
It’s clearly too early to describe a match between National League 2’s bottom two clubs as season-defining, but this was a game Colchester really needed to win.
As it was, Worthing out-scored their hosts by four tries to two on a filthy afternoon, thanks largely to an efficient set-piece and resolute defence, taking them above Colchester in the table.
For whatever reason, Colchester got on the wrong side of the referee. As the penalty count against them inexorably mounted, they didn’t help themselves with a succession of unforced errors.
They got themselves into scoring positions, only to spurn the opportunities.
Playing with the wind in the first half, Worthing were ahead inside ten minutes, hooker Jimmy Staples touching down from a line-out drive. On a horrible day for the kickers, all Worthing’s conversions missed.
Colchester finally got into their opponents’ half on 14 minutes, but three times they coughed up the ball when in promising positions.
Taking advantage of the wind, a massive 50-22 kick went just the right side of the corner flag, and from the resulting line-out Rob Ure scored to give Worthing a 10-0 lead on the half hour.
The best move of the match led to Colchester’s first try. A well-judged kick ahead from Jonah Varela was gathered by full-back Ross Taylor who still had plenty to do to score.
Gabe Jones converted to make it 10-7, at the break.
The front row was refreshed either side of half-time with Alex Mitchell, Leroy O’Neil and Francois Rossouw on for the Jeffery brothers and Dan Brennan.
Despite playing into the teeth of the gale, and with the rain now relentless, Worthing went further ahead five minutes into the second half as outside half Jack Forrest galloped over.
The visitors soon had their bonus point as prop Ollie Streeter benefitted from a quick tap penalty for off-side, catching Colchester on the hop.
Club legend Brett Cutbush replaced Corey Button on the hour and Worthing were soon down to 14 as Alex Havers saw yellow.
From the resulting penalty Joe Brock, on for Sam Easton, crossed from close range for Colchester’s second, converted by Jones.
The hosts pushed relentlessly for what could have been a match-winning try but Worthing’s defence held firm, while the concession of repeated penalties did not help Colchester’s cause.
“I’m bitterly disappointed,” said interim head coach Mike Haywood. “We didn’t adapt to the conditions well.
“We gave ourselves opportunities to score, we just didn’t take them. We spoke in the week about being clinical in their 22 but that wasn’t there today.
“That’ll be an area we’ll look at next week.”
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