Colchester 52, Saffron Walden 27 A POOR second half saw Saffron Walden Rugby Club exit the EDF Senior Vase, on Saturday. Colchester, currently riding high in London League Four, have only lost once all season while Walden had some players missin

Colchester 52, Saffron Walden 27

A POOR second half saw Saffron Walden Rugby Club exit the EDF Senior Vase, on Saturday.

Colchester, currently riding high in London League Four, have only lost once all season while Walden had some players missing and others playing in unfamiliar positions.

However, it was the visitors with the wind behind them in the first half who started strongly and were soon pressurising the Colchester try line.

On the sixth minute full-back Dave Philps fielded a clearance kick and ran the ball back at the home team, evaded a couple of tackles and went over to open the scoring, and with Hughes converting his kick the visitors were 7-0 up.

Five minutes later Walden stretched their lead with a fine penalty, and after another five minutes they scored another converted try when they created an overlap for winger Dave Patch to go over increasing the lead to 17-0.

Colchester came back strongly and scored a converted try of their own two minutes later and then on 22 minutes another unconverted try to cut the deficit to five points.

Walden scored a long range penalty to increase the lead to 20-12 in the 36th minute but they could not keep out the young and very mobile Colchester side who scored an unconverted try in the 38th minute to trail by only three.

The visitors had one more attack and winger Saff Koen went over in the corner only for the final pass to be adjudged forward.

With Colchester kicking off the second half with the strong wind now in their favour Walden knew they would be in for a hard 40 minutes.

Colchester levelled the scores with a penalty five minutes after the break and took the lead with a fine individual try by the winger who beat numerous tackles to go under the posts after 47 minutes

Walden attacked and on the 50th minute Paul Marshall, playing only his second ever game at scrum-half, kicked a high ball over the top of the advancing defence.

An awkward bounce in front of the Colchester full back enabled flanker Andrew Lancaster to pick the ball up and go over to level the scores at 27 each.

At this point Colchester racked up some quick points as they had a golden 15 minute period and scored two tries and a penalty.

They both used the wind and also ran the ball back with some slick passing and great support play.

They took advantage of some poor tackling by Walden along with the defence finally showing frailty that playing out of position inevitably brings. The lead was stretched to 42-27 which left Walden chasing the game.

The visitors nearly scored only to be denied when Hughes was tackled from behind by a player running back from an offside position and although he was sin-binned Walden could not capitalise on the extra man.

Once back to full strength Colchester scored one more converted try and another penalty to leave the final score at 52-27.

Colchester on this showing will be massive favourites to gain promotion this season as they soundly beat Walden who can now concentrate on the league without the cup as a distraction.