Colchester dominated their London League division one north match against Ipswich at Mill Road, winning 67-7 and scoring 11 tries in a bonus point victory.

Colchester gelled to produce exciting running rugby to the delight of the home supporters as James McRae, at number eight, and James Green, at 12, made impressive home debuts.

Colchester surged into an early lead.

A break by centre Matt Smith and follow up deft kick into space by fly-half David Higgins created a try for right wing Dave Brennan.

The restart kick was then returned, prop Jerome Awesu dragged in tacklers before offloading to Matt Smith who sent left wing James Crozier in for a try.

Charges by Ollie Pickett, James McRae and Awesu unsettled Ipswich, scrum-half Matt Wadling caught a retreating Ipswich defence offguard with a quick-thinking tap-penalty to set James Green in for his first try for the club.

Penalties were kicked to touch not goal and this resulted in a line-out catch and drive try for flanker Ollie Pickett, the fourth try earning Colchester a bonus point before the half hour.

Overconfidence proved costly as loose passing by Colchester led to a well-taken interception try by Ipswich flanker Craig Wilson, converted by skipper and former Colchester centre James Denham.

Colchester replied immediately, the restart kick was secured by lock Liam Pickett and driven on by McRae, Wadling closed to the line before Awesu dragged tacklers over to score.

Higgins added his second conversion for the 29-7 half-time lead.

Ipswich took the game to Colchester at the start of the second half before a big kick from Higgins took the game from the Colchester to the Ipswich 22.

A rushed defence saw the clearance kick fielded by Colchester prop Jay Hatcher who charged towards the opposition line, before flanker Danny Whiteman set Matt Smith to race in for a try.

Ipswich’s long restart kick was again boomed back by Higgins.

The resultant lineout was stolen by Ollie Pickett for Higgins to craft a chip over the flat Ipswich defence for Whiteman to race onto and touchdown.

Ipswich flanker Wilson was then yellow carded for repeatedly not rolling away at the tackle.

Colchester exploited their man advantage to good effect.

Hard tackling forced a fumble that Wadling seized to cross for his first try for the senior side.

The restart kick was taken by James McRae who raced through the onrushing Ipswich pack for a spectacular solo try from his own half. The dominant scrum delivered a sound platform for a training ground move that saw James Green cross unopposed for his second try.

Replacement centre Ben Murphy rounded off the try feast racing in the final touchdown.

Higgins added his sixth conversion of the game to take the final score to 67-7.

The strength of the Colchester squad was underlined with the seconds defeating Ipswich seconds 95-0, Colchester thirds beating Mersea Seconds 77-5 while the fourths ran in 38-14 victors over Haverhill seconds.

For a full round-up of all of the latest local rugby action, see Tuesday's Daily Gazette.