WESTCLIFF roared back to winning ways with a 14-10 victory against in-form Colchester.

Westcliff slipped off the top of the London One North table after suffering two successive defeats.

But they were back to their best to see off third placed Colchester.

And that delighted their first team manager Rick Compton.

“This was a very pleasing performance and result against a very good team,” said Compton.

“It was also a perfect fillip to recent disappointments. The lads worked very hard and got what they deserved, giving us a great platform for the second half of the season.

Obliged to play against the elements with a bitter wind forcing play into the far corner Westcliff defended early Colchester attacks with determination and effectively repelled them.

Soon with hard work and enterprise they were able to gain field position and replacement scrum half Andy Roskams starting for the first time made a searing break in behind the visitors defence.

He made good ground before slipping a scoring pass to the supporting Jack Jones as the scrambling defence finally pulled him down.

Jones drove the conversion between the uprights and Westcliff enjoyed an early and deserved 7-0 lead.

The visitors responded strongly and were soon able to force their way over the line through their skipper Calum Irvine.

They then scored again when full back James Crozier went over but with both conversions missed they enjoyed only a 10-7 lead.

Westcliff responded strongly to the setback and forced their way up field, creating pressure and opportunities but they just failed to force a further score as dogged defence kept them at bay, albeit with a growing penalty count against them.

As the half ended they committed one too many offence and the referee sent the offending back row to the bin for 10 minutes.

Soon after the restart Westcliff made the numerical advantage count when Nick Sigwart went over and Jones once more converted to make it 14-0.

With the benefit of the elements the home side never looked like giving up the lead and were able to dominate territory and possession as Colchester were unable to gain field position.

Nevertheless without forcing the further score their play merited the game remained a close contest with occasional attacking forays by the visitors causing some concern.

However they were snubbed out and Westcliff closed the year with a hard earned win against one of their keenest promotion rivals.