GUERNSEY 31

COLCHESTER 17

National League Three

COLCHESTER bowed out of the National League on a losing note after losing their final game of the season.

The already-relegated Blacks came away from the Channel Islands having lost by five tries to two, despite a spirited display in front of their large travelling contingent of fans.

In perfect conditions, Colchester were ably led in a well-contested game by skipper Brett Cutbush, who stood in for injured Liam Pickett.

Guernsey threw everything at their visitors in the first 20 minutes but the Blacks' defence held firm.

Several Guernsey forays would often lead to a turnover ball with Colchester's hard-working forwards getting the ball back to fly-half David Higgins, who would clear their lines with some long-range kicking.

The impasse was broken after 20 minutes when Guernsey won a penalty ten metres from the Colchester line and prop Layton Batiste piled over for an unconventional try.

The next 20 minutes saw both sides trying to find the ascendancy with the Guernsey pack mostly on top but with Colchester's defence holding firm.

An offence in a scrum on their 22-metre line led to Colchester being awarded a penalty just behind the halfway line. Higgins coolly slotted the kick, bringing the score to 5-3.

However, Colchester's joy was short-lived as Guernsey scored a catch and drive try at the opposite end just before half time.

During the interval Colchester coaches took hooker Charlie Thorogood off, moved prop Alfie Walsh to hooker and brought on prop Jerome Awesu.

When the game restarted Guernsey threw everything at Colchester but they continued with their own attacks.

From one such attack, Higgins broke through the middle at offloaded to Danny Whiteman who scored under the posts. Tom Miller converted and suddenly Colchester were in contention, at 12-10.

But centre George Liversidge was yellow carded soon after and Guernsey used their superior numbers well.

Following a scrum five metres out, they put the fullback Kenny Hellier over for a well-converted try, making the score 19-10.

And five minutes later, Hellier scored another try following a successful Guernsey lineout.

Half an hour into the second half a disagreement between the sides led to Colchester's Jerome Awesu being brandished a red card, while Guernsey's number eight Dan Hill was shown a yellow card.

Guernsey pressed forward and after a lot of pressure, left wing Dave Davison dived over for a converted try to bring the score to 31-10.

Colchester grabbed a consolation try when lock Eli Castle broke free, ran 20 metres and then offloaded to flanker Alex Rayment, who scored under the posts.

Kiwi Te Albert, playing his last game, fittingly converted the try with the final kick of the game as the Blacks bowed out.