Colchester Rugby Club’s backs coach Nic Lloyd insists they can still retain their National League status this season.

The Blacks head into their home clash with Sutton and Epsom tomorrow lying second from bottom in the division three London and South East table, following six successive defeats.

Colchester were beaten 25-15 at Dorking last weekend (turn to page 58), despite a spirited late fightback.

And Lloyd believes they can take the positives of that away performance into this weekend’s clash at Mill Road.

He said: “We all still feel very confident that we can stay up, this season and we will give it absolutely everything to do so.

“With all due respect to Sutton and Epsom, it’s a good opportunity for us to get some points on the board this weekend.

“I think we were the architects of our downfall against them earlier in the season.

“But we’re getting ourselves back together now and we have players coming back from injury, so we’re looking forward to it.

“It hasn’t helped that we’ve had injuries and a number of people missing since the end of last year.

“But we’ve gradually rebuilt and I think you’ll see a much more competitive outfit, this side of Christmas.

“Dorking are a hard team to beat down there but we finished the game very strongly last weekend and we’ll look to take that into tomorrow’s game.”

Newly-appointment Rugby Football Union president Peter Baines will be a special lunch guest for Colchester’s clash with Sutton and Epsom tomorrow.

And Lloyd believes the club have much to be pleased with, despite the first team’s lowly league position.

“We’ve got lots to be proud of as a rugby club,” added Lloyd.

“I think we’ve got the third biggest youth division in the country.

“We have a massive youth involvement and we’re also one of the few amateur clubs who compete at national level.”