COLCHESTER cut loose at Woodford with an 11-try bonus point 71-12 victory in this top versus bottom London League division one north clash.

Danny Whiteman scored a hat-trick of tries, James Crozier bagged a brace and brothers Liam and Ollie Pickett scored again in consecutive games.

Demonstrating their intent from the start, Colchester’s kick-off was punted back by Woodford and fielded by full-back Brett Cutbush who counter-attacked at speed.

Ball in hand interpassing culminated in prop Jerome Awesu barging a defender aside to score the opening try within two minutes.

Another Woodford touch kick was fielded and led to a speedy counter-attack from Colchester, a deft grubber kick by scrum-half Matt Wadling was chased by flanker Harry Gozzett for the second try.

Woodford showed their mettle from a scrum when a pick-and-go rumble saw prop Elliot Kayser ground for a try.

Colchester responded with a handful of tries.

An attack created space for flanker Danny Whiteman to race in his first try.

Centre Joe Flexman fielded another failed kick to touch, prop Jay Hatcher set a platform and the ball was spread to wing James Crozier, whose step inside and angled diagonal run cut through the retreating Woodford defence, for a stunning bonus-point try.

Scrum-half Wadling then burst up the wing and Whiteman was in close support for his second try.

Irvine’s crafty grubber kick was taken over the line by a Woodford defender who was hounded by Joe Flexman.

From the resulting scrum win lock Liam Pickett lunged over the line to score.

Irvine then provided another assist, with his line break setting Crozier up for his second try and a 47-5 half-time lead.

Bouncing back at the start of the second half, Woodford pressured Colchester into conceding penalties, a line-out catch and drive finished with a try for Mike Lawler, James Pye added the conversion.

Colchester struck back as Ollie White’s line-out win was popped back to hooker Charlie Thorogood on the touchline to zip over for a try.

Repeated penalties resulted in Wadling being yellow carded for offside – but this loss galvanized Colchester rather than Woodford.

Replacement number eight Shane Nayalo cut through the midfield to send Irvine in under the posts.

Higgins and Irvine combined to break and Whiteman was put in to score his third try.

Colchester kept up the pressure and with seconds remaining Woodford suffered a yellow card but failed to prevent replacement flanker Ollie Pickett running in try number 11 to take Colchester to more than 900 points scored for the season so far, before Higgins’ eighth conversion brought the game to a close.