The Tridents made the trip to face the Colchester Gladiators in a game that, on another day, could have gone very differently. Despite flashes of genuine quality and a defence that dominated for long stretches, a handful of costly errors proved the difference as the Tridents fell to a 26–7 defeat.
The opening exchanges were tentative from both sides, with both teams going three-and-out on their first possessions. The Tridents then handed Colchester an early gift when a muffed punt gave the Gladiators possession deep in Tridents territory. However, the Tridents defence held firm, getting the ball back when Ellis Warner-Larthe (#1) recovered a Gladiators fumble. From there, the Tridents struggled to build any momentum, punting after a short drive, and the first quarter ended with both offences failing to find their rhythm.
The Tridents' defence continued to impress, forcing a three-and-out and keeping Colchester off the scoreboard. An unlucky dropped pass ended one promising Essex drive, and a physical run game emerging wasn't enough to avoid a three-and-out from deep in their own territory on the next.
The game's first real turning point came when Adam Rice (#22) forced a turnover, handing the Tridents the ball at midfield. They made it count, with Frazer Childs (#9) firing deep to Jack Millen (#25) for a 54-yard touchdown. PAT good. Tridents 7–0.
It didn't last. A Gladiators drive culminated in a defensive penalty on fourth down at the five-yard line, gifting them a first down. They scored, and though the initial PAT was missed, a penalty on the defence allowed a rekick which was converted. 7–7.
A third-down interception on the next Tridents drive handed Colchester the ball at the 29-yard line, and a short drive ended with a field goal. The Gladiators led 10–7 going into half time.
The Gladiators kicked off to start the second half and, after a brief drive that went nowhere, were forced to punt on fourth down. The ball crept out just short of the pylon, leaving the Tridents with the worst possible starting position on their own one-yard line. A tackle in the end zone on the next play resulted in a safety, handing Colchester a 12–7 lead.
From the restart, the Tridents defence delivered one of their best passages of play, holding the Gladiators to three consecutive losses of yards before forcing a punt. The Tridents offence, though, struggled to capitalise. A fourth down fake punt was stopped, and despite a defender jumping offside, the call was missed and the turnover on downs stood.
Colchester continued to be repelled by an excellent defensive effort forcing a three-and-out again, but a promising Tridents drive ended with a punt downed at the Glads' five-yard line. However, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty then handed Colchester 15 free yards, undoing the good work from the punt team.
The fourth quarter began with promise. A tackle by Alex Abineri (#99) forced a fumble, recovered by Pete Mason (#44), giving the Tridents the ball at the Gladiators' 27-yard line. However, a penalty pushed the Tridents back out of field goal range, and the drive ended without points.
The defence continued to work hard, forcing another three-and-out and returning a punt to the Tridents' 40-yard line. A big hit then forced a fumble from rookie running back Richard Olaniyan (#23), which Colchester recovered at the 38.
A Morgan Campait (#12) interception gave the Tridents' offence the ball back, but deep on their own seven-yard line with a long field ahead of them. The drive couldn't get going, and a subsequent interception was returned for what appeared to be a Gladiators touchdown. Players on the field and sideline were adamant the receiver's knee was down at the point of reception, but the officials ruled a score. The kick after was good, and the Glads led 19-7.
Things went from bad to worse for the Tridents when a pass on the next drive was picked off and returned for another Gladiators touchdown. With the PAT good, the Glads were now up 26-7.
The game's final moments brought little relief. A Colchester fumble recovery was met by yet another dominant defensive showing, with the Tridents forcing three consecutive losses of yards to leave the Gladiators facing fourth and 31. The punt, however, was muffed by Essex, handing possession straight back to Colchester, and the clock ran down to confirm the final score.
The Tridents look to bounce back this week against the London Olympians in their first home game of the 2026 campaign.
Match report written by Grant Stammers
Photography by Kenneth Campbell
