Colchester's 13 tries proved unlucky for Thurrock whose player injuries and unavailability reduced their chances against an in-form and determined promotion-chasing side.

Colchester’s 83-7 triumph was their 22nd consecutive victory and the tenth game this season in which they have scored more than 50 points.

The south Essex visitors played national league rugby until being relegated to London & South East division one north last season but for this game had to field second and third team players.

Though depleted, Thurrock played gamely for a 24-7 deficit at half-time but could not cope with Colchester’s pace, fitness and competitive spirit in a second-half display that delivered 59 unanswered points.

Ollie Pickett crowned his Samsung Try of the Month award for February 2015 with a hat-trick of tries, team-mates Joe Flexman, Matt Smith, Brett Cutbush and skipper Calum Irvine added braces of tries apiece, while James Crozier (6) and David Higgins (3) contributed nine conversions.

Colchester took an early lead. A line break by fly-half David Higgins set hooker Charlie Thorogood to race in the opening try.

Flanker Danny Whiteman’s quickly-taken penalty and 30-metre break rattled the Thurrock defence for centre Matt Smith to cut through and touchdown.

Thurrock showed their national league experience with a series of attacks creating an overlap try for wing Sam Coultish. Seb Roache’s touchline conversion bested the gusting wind.

Anxious for a four-try bonus point, Colchester conceded penalties until another opportunistic penalty tap and go diagonal run by skipper Irvine ghosted through the retreating Thurrock defence to score.

He then combined with Whiteman in an audacious counter-attack from their own 22 that set Pickett in for the team’s fourth bonus point try.

A 50-metre break by wing Damo Brambley was held up short of the line and flanker Harry Gozzett unluckily knocked-on diving to ground the ball in the last play of the first half.

Anthony O’Riordan’s coaching team ironed out the anxiety in Colchester’s first-half display to cut down on unforced errors in a dazzling second-half display.

Thurrock restarted and took play close to the Colchester line, but turnover ball led to a break upfield by Matt Smith culminating in Ollie Pickett beating tacklers for his second try.

Matt Wadling’s break released Joe Flexman for his first try before Pickett’s hat-trick try finished a handling move involving most of the Colchester team.

Brambley then turned try creator with a series of impressive runs.

Breaking at speed with Irvine he sent Smith in for his second try before long distance attacks from his own 22 set Irvine in for his second try, another break set Brett Cutbush up for a try.

Cutbush dummied and sidestepped his way to score his second try after Joe McMillan was brought down by a diving ankle tap just short of the try-line.

Matt Smith broke several tired tackles before linking with the supporting Harry Gozzett for his touchdown.

Quick Colchester handling created an overlap for Joe Flexman to close the scoring with his second try to take the score past 80 points for the game.