“Late drama, suspense and a huge amount of character from the visitors. For the neutrals, mark down 11th March for the return fixture at Redbourn Lane.
Chances are you will not be disappointed!"

It’s unlikely that the large crowd gathered at Redbourn Lane were all there based on that advice, but they were once again treated to a memorable clash between the Hertfordshire and Essex sides.

Ahead of the game Harps knew a win would confirm fourth place, whilst Colchester with one further game to play would guarantee second if they won their last two matches.

Harps started the game the stronger with an early penalty goal from Sweeney, however it was clear from the off that the visitors would have the upper hand in the set piece, particularly in the scrums.

Venter then extended the Harpenden lead as he gleefully intercepted the ball from thirty yards out to sprint under the posts to score. Sweeney’s conversion got Harps on to double figures. Though shortly after the opportunity to go 13 points ahead was missed as a Sweeney penalty uncharacteristically drifted wide.

Colchester then got themselves on the scoresheet, after a miscued lineout gave them a scrum five metres out. With the Harpenden pack struggling to stem the tide of the Colchester eight, the ball found its way into winger Flexman’s hands to score out wide.

The home side responded almost immediately after, building some pressure just in front of the visitors’ try line. Eventually it was lock Sturley who found a hole in the defence as he ran a strong line to dive over. With the conversion added, Harps went into the sheds with a 17-3 half time lead.

Colchester were reinvigorated in the second period, playing more to their strengths through the forwards but still finding some space out wide on occasion. The forwards route was eventually the most fruitful as replacement prop McMillan touched down from a pick and go.

Harpenden were still the more threatening in the wide channels and as McClean made a clean break and chipped through he was tripped by winger Mpailane. With Colchester down to 14 players, Harps went to the corner and returned with five points as Sims scored from the back of a maul.

Almost immediately the visitors were back within a score with a little less than 20 minutes to play, as Mitchell score from close range. The game was poised, with both teams creating opportunities to make the decisive move.

It was Colchester who scored the final try of the game from a lineout drive and with the clock seemingly ticking into the red, the successful conversion looked to have secured Colchester the win.

Yet with less than one minute remaining, the restart resulted in an infringement from a Colchester player giving Sweeney a chance to win the game from 38 metres out. Something that he did not need a second invitation for, expertly splitting the uprights to give Harpenden the slenderest of victories.

Harpenden: McKenzie-Cardy, Sims, Campion, Sturley, Lacey, Charlier, Osborn, Speirs, Gulliford, Mann, Tait, Venter, McClean, Wilkinson, Sweeney.

Reps: Boynes, Bloisi, Wheatley

Photo credit: https://www.colchesterrugby.co.uk/photos/1053999/27573707.html