Colchester secured a resounding 39-8 victory over Harlow, in the EDF Senior Vase London (round four).

The win was memorable for the attractive rugby played in atrocious conditions as Colchester took their fourth scalp from higher league opposition in the Vase this season.

Mastering the cold, biting wind and rain better than their visitors, Colchester handled and ran the ball with assurance and confidence throughout the game.

Captain Elliot Castle led his pack in a high energy game that kept Harlow on the defensive, forward charges combining with angled runs from Colchester’s formidable back line.

Making his debut at fly-half, Chris Withers teased the encroaching Harlow defence by mixing his running, passing and kicking game.

Centre debutant David Higgins also impressed, strong defence topped with a try and long-range conversions.

Harlow started with the wind at their backs and used the conditions to test the Colchester backs with long kicks.

The home side more than passed this test, with one kick taken by Colchester left wing Jon Vine who skidded and fell before recovering his feet and setting off on a barnstorming run from just outside his own 22 to slice through the onrushing Harlow offence for the opening try.

The restart kick was quickly returned to the Harlow half where Colchester pressed for another score.

Prop James Mitchell went close but knocked on.

Repeated attacks saw the retreating Harlow defence penalised by referee Jeff Farmer.

One quickly-taken Colchester tap penalty caught Harlow off guard, Withers slicing through for a try.

A chance error added to Colchester’s lead.

A kick was knocked on by the Harlow wing who, in frustration, lashed out at the ball with his foot – only to chip it into the arms of the chasing Colchester right wing Ben Addison who accepted the gift to sprint from halfway and score under the posts, James Gee converted.

Harlow rallied, their pack driving forward until a five metre scrum gave hard working number eight Paul Eynon the platform to pick up and drive over for a try.

The Colchester restart was kicked back by Harlow, fullback Adam Cook receiving and counter attacking, lock Liam Pickett carrying the ball on.

Harlow man-marked the Colchester backs, leaving a gap for flanker Dan Whiteman to zip through the Harlow defence for a try.

Harlow responded with a penalty from Lee Harmon before half-time, Colchester’s Higgins replying in kind early in the second half.

Forced back even when they had possession, Harlow were pressed into their half for most of the second half.

Colchester pressure told, a forward drive in the Harlow 22 drawing the defence before quickly recycled ball freed Ben Addison to speed over for his second try wide right.

Higgins added the difficult touchline conversion.

Continued Colchester pressure enabled Higgins to follow up with a fine try, dummying and sidestepping through the Harlow defence to run in a try from 30 metres before adding the conversion to seal the victory.