Sat 15 Feb 2020
Norwich Union maintain their unbeaten run in Eastern Counties 1, with a dogged win at home against a very impressive Colchester 3s team. Union had to come back from behind three times to secure the win as the away team piled on the pressure, particularly in the first half as the strong wind at their backs allowed them to pin the home side in their own half.
It was the visitors who took a slim 0-3 lead with only 5mins on the clock through a penalty kick awarded for an infringement at the ruck.
Union replied with a try on debut from scrum half Ben Girling, who burrowed his way to the line through the ruck that was setup following a burst from Craig Dunbar. Alex Sinclair adding the conversion to put Union in front at 7-3.
The home side dropped to 14 men as Jon Spicker received a yellow card for a deliberate knock down in the Colchester half.
Colchester immediately used their numerical advantage in the pack to setup a catch and drive from a lineout 7m out, which Union were unable to repel, and conceded a converted try, which put the visitors into the lead again at 7-10, which they held until half time.
It wasn’t until 10 minutes into the second half that Union were able to restore the lead through a try from captain Matt Spenceley who dropped on the ball over the line as the powerful Union scrum pushed the visitors over their own line from 5m out. Sinclair added the extras to retake the lead at 14-10.
Colchester regained the lead from the kick off as they turned over the ball and setup a driving maul close to the Union try-line, which resulted in another try and with a successful conversion a narrow 14-15 lead.
Unions dominance in the scrum was again on display as Spenceley scored his second again from the base of the scrum as the home-side powered over from another 5m scrum, Sinclair again adding the extras, Union re-taking the lead for a third time, with less than 10mins on the clock.
Union consolidated their lead with a bonus point try from Craig Dunbar, who powered his way over the line from close range, Matt Gyton adding his weight to the effort. Sinclair was again deadly accurate with his kick adding the extras to take score to 28-15.
Colchester then threw everything they had at the home-side as they attempted to salvage a losing bonus point, but the Union defence stayed strong resulting in no further scores.
Team: Martyn Webb, Ben Bond-Webster, James Grey, Matt Gyton, Jon Spicker, Matt Cook, Jake Rodwell, Matt Spenceley, Ben Girling, Ali McKee, David Sheldon-Smillie, Alex Sinclair, Callum Slaughter, Oli Ward, Graham Hunt Replacements: Craig Dunbar, Simon Pitcher, Jay O’Brien
Scorers: Ben Girling 1T, Matt Spenceley 2T, Craig Dubar 1T, Alex Sinclair 4C
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