RAMPANT Colchester Rugby Club beat bottom side Ruislip 85-0 to maintain their winning start to the London One North season, writes STEVE WHITEMAN.

The Blacks ran in five first-half tries and added a further eight after the interval to maintain second spot in the league and significantly boost their points tally, at a damp Mill Road.

It was a complete rout of the plucky visitors who competed for the whole match in what was a well-behaved, fairly-refereed contest.

Colchester made several team changes with Alex Burman returning to the second row and Jamie Murray playing the whole game at scrum half.

A strong bench included back rower Harrison Pickett, mobile prop Callum Jeffrey and winger Max Payne who has been on impressive form for Colchester's second team, the Ravens.

Callum's twin brother took the man-of-the-match award from Director of Rugby Anthony O'Riordan for his strong propping and energetic loose play, which included him scoring a try.

The sponsors gave a similar accolade to Jamie Miller, who had an outstanding game at No 8 scoring no less than three tries and assisting several others.

Skipper Danny Whiteman claimed two tries as did lock Graeme Hay, just reward for their effective support play being in the right position for that vital last pass.

After a slightly hesitant start the Blacks soon got into the game and scored at a regular rate as the game progressed.

On the scoresheet were Miller then fly half David Higgins followed by Lewis Jeffrey, then flanker Oly Pickett and, just before the break, Hay.

Colchester upped the tempo in the second half, increasing the pressure on unfortunate Ruislip.

Tries were bagged in succession by centre Nick Flexman, Whiteman, Miller getting his second, substitute Harrison Pickett, Miller getting his third and then Whiteman scoring again.

There was a pause whilst the coaches decided to rest Miller and readjust the pack.

Callum Jeffrey replaced his twin brother Lewis at prop and the game continued.

With half an hour of the second half gone Hay scored his second try and hooker Dan Brennan blocked a box kick by Ruislip's scrum-half and pounced on the loose ball, to end the scoring.

Wing James Crozier had a good afternoon as far as the kicking went, converting all but three of the 13 tries.

This was a very composed display by the Blacks with all 18 players stepping up to the mark.

They stuck to their rehearsed moves and it paid off and they did not ease up when they established a comfortable second-half lead.

The fact that Ruislip were unable to penetrate the home defence and were unable to score pays testament to the sound Blacks defence.