The Roosters failed to capitalise on an early advantage as they were undermined by far too many errors in their first home game of the season.
Although dry and sunny there was a very stiff wind to cope with and the Roosters started with it at their backs. They made an excellent start and after forcing an error 20 metres out Michael Drake was easily able to evade the defence and score under the posts with Jimmy Allen adding the conversion with only 2 minutes gone. Almost immediately the Roosters were disrupted by an injury to young second rower Christopher Sykes who was making his first start.
The home side tried to put this to one side and tried to exploit the advantage of the wind. However, they were frequently guilty of overplaying and the crowd grew increasingly frustrated by a series of handling errors. On 20 minutes, following a further Roosters error, Colchester were able to get their first significant field position. This was ruthlessly exploited by full back Jon Vine who evaded some weak tackling before showing impressive pace to beat his opposite number to score under the posts.
Colchester were buoyed by this and continued to apply good pressure. The Roosters' defence held up well though and easily withstood a repeat set of tackles folowing a goal line drop out. On 27 minutes the Roosters regained the lead. A speculative kick to the corner saw three Roosters in pursuit and Jack Blackley was well placed when the ball bounced up high and was able to score in the corner. Allen converted from the touchline.
Again St Ives tried to press home the advantage but were undone by errors. Instead it was Colchester who were to score after the Roosters' defence was broken with disconcerting ease. The half closed all square at 12-12 after the Roosters had again committed the sin of losing the ball on the first tackle.
Turning round against the wind it always looked as though the Roosters should have got more points on the board with the elements in their favour. However they did open the scoring with their best move of the game. The ever lively Allen dummied through an intial tackle before moving the ball down the line to the right wing. Swift hands from Blackley put winger James Bennett in to score. Bennett was in the game again almost immediately with a 60 metre chase back to prevent Vine from scoring. Colchester though were now showing how to exploit the wind and repeatly won easy field poistion with kicks. One such thumping blow sailed far up field and was judged a 40-20 and so the Romans were able to retain possesion. From the scrum they built pressure and a top class off-load from the influential half back Jack Wriguls resulted in a try which was converted to give Colchester the lead for the first time.
The Roosters retaliated creditably and were able to exert substantial pressure of their own. David Sykes looked to have squeezed over the line but was adjudged to have been held up. Another attack came to nothing when Dan McCormack threw an over ambitious off load and surrended posession. Even after a goal line drop out was forced the Romans again escaped with a huge clearance and again got in to score.
St Ives again came back with a good move through the hands. A gap seemed to open up for Allen but he took the option of moving the ball right and the ball was lost and with it the Roosters' last chance. Instead the ball came free to Vine who went the length of the field to score. A final Colchester try wrapped it up at 16-34.
Roosters Head Coach Ian Hill was furious with the efforts of his team citing too many individual errors and the need for the team to work on individual fitness. Certainly there is plenty of room for improvement before the game away at Thetford next Saturday.