Tring made the journey to an in-form Colchester on Saturday, looking for a victory to end their recent losing streak. With injured players beginning to return to the 1st XV and a win against the hosts already under their belt earlier in the season, Tring arrived confident that this was the week to turn round their fortunes. With the backline unchanged from the previous week’s loss to Tunbridge Wells, Harry McCartney returned to the side at flanker and JP Keyser was a late replacement in the front row. Guy Fountaine and Jake Olley were named on the bench. There was a significant wind blowing down the 4G turf as the two sides took to the field in front of a full gallery of supporters.

With the wind at Tring’s backs, the visitors were quick out of the blocks. Immediate pressure from the kick off and some good carrying saw Oliver Green break through the Colchester defence. Winger Alfie Robbins was in support and produced an excellent offload for Charlie Goss Lambourne to score the first try of the game. Ben Hogan converted brilliantly from the touch line (0-7). Just 8 minutes later, the Tring forwards gave the opposition a taste of what was to come for the rest of the afternoon. With a lineout 7m from the try line, a well-executed maul scythed through the Colchester pack and over the try line, hooker Nick Brown eventually emerging with the ball. Hogan converted again (0-14).

Whilst Tring continued to put pressure on the hosts, a penalty for offside on the halfway line gave Colchester the opportunity to launch an attack of their own. A good (if not slightly lucky) kick to the corner found touch on Tring’s 5m line. Colchester’s winger would eventually cross from the resulting phases (7-14). The visitors fired back soon after, however. After a poor clearing box kick, Keyser collected the loose ball and powered through a number of opposition defenders to score. Hogan continued to kick well and converted from wide (7-21). The tries continued to come in the game as the Colchester fullback scored soon after to cut the deficit (14-21).

Shortly before half time, Colchester scored again but failed to level the game with the conversion (19-21), a tight match as everyone expected.

With the elements now very much against Tring, Colchester started the half brighter with a penalty goal to take the lead for the first time (22-21). However, this lead would not last long. Outstanding work at the kick off from Ian Jarman saw Tring win the ball back and begin to build phases in the opposition half.

Hard, fast running saw Tring’s forwards breaking the line until a short pass to a charging Oliver Beeny under the posts had Tring restore their lead (22-28). Colchester scored shortly after from close range (29-28).

The Tring forwards were beginning to assert their dominance in the game. A fantastic touch-finding penalty kick from Jake Olley gave the Tring pack the chance to set up the driving maul. From the Colchester 22m, the forwards drove to the line with Josh White diving over (29-33). The hosts answered with a try of their own (34-33). With 10 minutes remaining, the forwards were at it again. With excellent accuracy from a line out deep in the Colchester half, the pack splintered the host’s defence with another brilliant driving maul. Captain Olley O’Gorman crossed the try line to give Tring a crucial try (34-38).

Late in the game, Colchester broke down the touch line into the Tring half, but George Hayes showed his experience and skill to win an excellent turnover for the hosts. Tring managed to see out the game with some close carrying before the final whistle, a brilliant and much needed away victory.

With just two games remaining this season, Tring host Harpenden on March 4th in their final home game of the season.

Tries: Goss-Lambourne; Brown; Keyser; O Beeny; White; O’Gorman)
Cons: Hogan (4)

Photos courtesy of Stuart Seagrave