Luton, who lost 21-18 at North Walsham last weekend, played at a high tempo in the first few moments, one their visitors couldn’t live with.
The first points were scored after five minutes from a Rik Hobbs penalty.

Luton, who had a strong wind behind their backs in the first half, quickly gained territory inside Colchester’s 22. Colchester outside centre Matt Smith was then penalised for illegally using hands in the ruck, 10 metres in front of his posts. Rik Hobbs punished his mistake by kicking three points over.

Colchester, who were third in the table prior to kick-off, secured territory of their own soon after, but they were up against a resilient and brave Luton defence. Despite phase after phase of Colchester pressure, it was Luton who scored the first try of the match after 16 minutes.

After a strong 50 metre run from Luton full-back Doug Fluker from an interception, Luton found themselves five metres away from the try-line with a scrum. A strong push from the tight forwards allowed Luton number eight to pick the ball up and get the ball down, something Jack Elston was able to do by the left touchline. Rik Hobbs then converted brilliantly from out wide to give Luton a 10-0 lead.

It didn’t take Luton to add to their scoring, in fact just three minutes. A Luton line-out on the half way was the platform for a backs move that Colchester weren’t expecting. Rik Hobbs played a little prop pass to the on-rushing Steve Ellis who easily forced his way over the gainline. Running at the isolated Colchester full back, Ellis had Jake Hobbs on his right hand shoulder for a simple pass. J Hobbs then ran under the posts, allowing his brother Rik to add the conversion and stretch Luton’s lead to 17-0 after 19 minutes.

A period of limited try line action followed, until the 34th minute where Luton won a penalty on the half way line, allowing Rik Hobbs to again brilliantly kick to the corner five metres out. Michael Weston then forced himself over, but the referee adjudged the ball was held up over the line, resulting in another scrum five metres out.

Colchester this time prevented the Luton pressure in the scrum, only for the ball to be moved through the hands in the backline. Steve Ellis looked to have been tackled, but the inside centre had the presence of mind to offload to full back Tom Wilmore to dive over. Hobbs added two more points to his personal tally and the score was 24-0.

However, unlike perhaps the scoreline suggested, Colchester was playing well in every department, except for converting their pressure into points, unlike their clinical hosts.

However this changed in the last play of the half where after what looked like a lost line-out inside the Luton 22m. Yet the ball was loose and the ball ended up in the hands of Graeme Hay who scored to give hope for the visitors at half time. The conversion was missed and the scoreline was 24-5 at half time.

Colchester, who had a stern exchange of words at half time, continued the second half the way they finished the first, by scoring a try. Damien Brambley made a great break from his position of full-back for Colchester, and with Oliver Pickett on his shoulder for an easy pass, the score was made by Colchester and suddenly the visitors believed of a turnaround after a brilliant conversion from a difficult angle. The visitors’ belief was enhanced after David Higgins, following on from the conversion, converted a 40m penalty straight through the posts and Luton’s lead was down to just nine points after 47 minutes.

Luton was then forced back onto their line on numerous occasions, but their mental strength shone through by preventing numerous attacks deep inside Luton’s half. Jake Hobbs, was playing a vital role in midfield, then forced Colchester back deep inside their own half after a much needed interception and clearing kick to force Luton into Colchester’s 22 for the first time in the second half.

Unlike Colchester, Luton used their territory advantage count and secured their fourth try when Jack Elston once again scored after a strong Luton scrum five metres after 64 minutes, a carbon copy try of Luton’s first in the match. This try stretched Luton’s lead to 29-15, and despite Colchester’s pressure, there was no more scoring and Luton secured another bonus point victory at Newlands Road.

Luton now travel to Brentwood on Saturday looking to seek revenge after their 25-28 defeat to the Essex outfit in early October.

Luton: Tom Wilmore, Doug Fluker, Jake Hobbs, Steve Ellis, Brandon Lewsey (Chris Davies 47), Rik Hobbs, Tom Mahendran; Jack Elston, Ryan Sheppard, Sam Pacey (Mark Tindall 47), Pat Nelly (c), Karl Roddell (Adam Harris 47), Ryan Staff, Michael Weston, Jack Elston.

Colchester: Damien Brambley, Richard Chadwick, Matt Smith, Joe Flemman, Simon Parkinson, David Higgins, Gregor Irvine; Miles Pitcher, Charles Thorngood (Charles Hays-Burt 36), Jerome Awesu, Kieran Payne (Brett Cotbush 53), Graeme Hay, Oliver White, Oliver Pickett, Callum Irvine (Sam Trott 34).

Referee – Andrew Beckett
Touchjudges - Jeremiah Hanafin and unknown.

Luton man of the match – Jack Elston, bagged himself two tries and was constantly working in defence all over the pitch, great performance from the number 8.