Hat-tricks from debutant Max Davis and another by Graeme Francis got Pilgrims’ Zoo League season away to a flying start.

After going behind to an early penalty goal another outstanding performer, Seb Clark,  scored the first of his side’s ten tries, six of them converted by Alex Miller.

Given all the possession they needed by a dominant pack, the Canterbury backs cut loose.

They stacked up a 26-3 led by half time with tries tries from Will Bettles, Max Davis (his first for the club) and Francis.

The second half saw Francis cross twice more, each time showing a superb dummy,  but at 38-3. Colchester enjoyed a better spell and the Pilgrims Jamie Dowkes was yellow carded.

It did not stop Davis getting another try after a storming run by Clark, but the visitors eased the pain a little with a converted try of their own.

Pilgrims, however, were in no mood to let up and rounded off an impressive victory with further scores from James Shaw and Will Hilton.