Shelford get the ball rolling with Colchester win

First win of the season for Shelford

Tries from Junior Koresi and Jamie Beswick helped Shelford clinch a 15-13 win over Colchester in National League Three London & SE.

Shelford made the better start to the game, with captain Richie McIver making some strong runs to put them on the front foot.

Full-back Simon Hrbek caught a loose kick on halfway and passed to Koresi, who beat a number of defenders to score the opening try, with Hrbek landing the conversion.

Aki Lea stepped off the bench for Shelford after 30 minutes, and he made an immediate impact with some driving runs and big tackles.

And Shelford increased their lead to 10-0 at half time thanks to a 40-metre penalty from Hrbek.

At the start of the second half, Shelford gave away a number of penalties, one of which was converted by Colchester.

But the hosts responded through a good drive from a line-out and after going over the line, Jamie Beswick emerged with the ball to make it 15-3.

Colchester had an immediate reply as a box kick from scrum-half Charlie Baker was charged down, and the visitors scored a converted try.

Shelford then suffered a serious of blows as lock Andrew Hutchinson went off with a broken nose, centre Gerhard Wessels suffered a shoulder injury and Tom Lucas was sin-binned.

Colchester reduced the arrears with another penalty, and that led to Shelford turning to their forwards to shut up shop.

They earned a penalty that Hrbek was unable to convert, and from the restart, Colchester made a break only for their winger to be denied by a try-saving tackle from Beswick in the corner.

However, Beswick's tackle was deemed high and he was sent to the sin bin, with Colchester earning a shot at the posts as a result.

But the effort hit the post and was gathered by Shelford before being kicked to touch to complete the win.

Shelford are away to Chichester next weekend.