Latest Game & League Table
Season 2008/9
Runwell Wyverns vs Old Cooperians
November 15th
Old Cooperians travelled to Wickford for this entertaining Essex 2 Match against Runwell Wyverns.
Runwell took the lead in the seventh minute when a Coopers player gave away a penalty in front of their post for having hands in a ruck. Coopers could not get into the game for the first quarter and Runwell pressed hard but could not break Coopers defence. On thirty seven minutes flyhalf Scott Sarson drop goal brought Coopers level and a successful penalty kick ten minutes later put Coopers ahead.
Score at half time Runwell 3, Old Cooperians 6
Some strong words at the break saw a revitalised Coopers. with only one minute gone fullback and captain Harry Fayers (in the absence of Ray Flowers) collected a high ball and ran through the Runwell defence to score a try that Sarson converted. On fifty minutes minutes Sarson added a penalty kick when Runwell were caught offside. Four minutes later a well worked move by forwards and backs presented inside centre Ben Pinder with the ball at full speed and he beat the Runwell fullback to score a try under the posts that Sarson converted. The final score of the game came in the sixty fifth minute when Sarson broke through the Runwell back line and scored a try that he then converted to take his points tally for the game to 20 ( T, DG, 2P, 3C)
Final score Runwell Wyverns 3, Old Cooperians 30 pts.
Man of the Match: Sean Kavanagh
Team P W D L F A Diff Pts
Millwall 7 7 0 0 393 83 310 14
Old Cooperians 7 6 0 1 226 80 146 12
East London 7 5 0 2 219 98 121 10
May & Baker 7 3 0 4 112 129 -17 6
Runwell Wyverns 7 2 0 5 163 200 -37 4
Burnham-On-Crouch 7 2 0 5 104 209 -105 4
Loughton 7 2 0 5 96 299 -203 4
Kings Cross Steelers 7 1 0 6 80 295 -215 2
Old Cooperians vs Brentwood 3's
November 8th
Old Cooperians without a league game arranged a friendly with Brentwood 3rds/Vets at St Marys Lane.
Coopers had twenty one players available and coach Rob Anderson starting line up gave a number of younger players the opportunity to show there mettle. Brentwood had many years of experience and soon put it to their advantage by keeping it in the forwards and not allowing the Coopers backs to run the ball. On ten minutes Brentwood took the lead when they scored from a penalty kick. Coopers forwards were winning their scrums and from one the ball was moved down the backs to the right wing and an inside pass to flanker Dirk de Villiers gave him the space to beat the Brentwood defence and score a try that scrum half Dave Pudney converted.
Score at half time Old Cooperians 7, Brentwood 3rds 3.
The second half saw numerous changes of players with all subs being given a run out although the intensity of the game remained high from both sides. On fifty minutes fullback Harry Fayers collected the ball on his own twenty two yard line and weaved a merry dance through the Brentwood players before out pacing his opposite fullback to score under the posts. Mark Sansom who had come on as a sub, playing his first game of the season, converted the kick.
Score at full time Old Cooperians 14pts, Brentwood 3rds/Vets 3pts.
Man of the Match: Skippy De Villiers
Old Cooperians v East London
November 1st
Old Cooperians hosted East London in this Essex 2 encounter at St Marys Lane in atrocious conditions of heavy rain and wind.
Coopers took the lead in the second minute following an excellent kick and chase from the kick off that resulted in a Coopers scrum on the East London five yard line. Luke Taylor playing at No 8, in a twinkle of the eye, had picked up the ball beat two men with shear speed and scored the first try for Coopers. East London gradually came into the game and with a strong pack and took the ascendancy but were unable to breach the Coopers defence. Coopers were giving away numerous penalties and finally the referee sinbinned prop Chris Little for persistent infringements, however they were unable to get over Coopers goal line. With half time beckoning Coopers gave away another penalty in front of the post that East London slotted over.
Score at half time: Old Cooperians 5, East London 3.
Coopers with the wind and rain behind them played the long kicking game and took the play back into East London half of the field. On forty eight minutes fly half Scott Sarson gathered a loose ball steadied himself and kicked a drop goal to extend Coopers lead to five points. Coopers continued to force East London to retreat and on sixty two minutes from a Coopers scrum, scrum half Joey Wyatt fed Sarson to laid on a short pass to inside centre Ben Pinder who at full speed split the east London backs to score Coopers second try. Coopers put the game beyond East London with a successful penalty kick by Sarson on seventy minutes. East London rallied but were unable to get into the Coopers half for the remaining ten minutes of the game.
Score at full time: Old Cooperians 16 pts, East London 3 pts.
Man of the Match: Scott Sarson
Team P W D L F A Diff Pts
Millwall 6 6 0 0 361 83 278 12
Old Cooperians 6 5 0 1 196 77 119 10
East London 6 4 0 2 164 98 66 8
May & Baker 6 3 0 3 112 97 15 6
Runwell Wyverns 6 2 0 4 160 170 -10 4
Loughton 6 2 0 4 83 280 -197 4
Burnham-On-Crouch 6 1 0 5 85 196 -111 2
Kings Cross Steelers 6 1 0 5 80 240 -160 2
Old Cooperians fielded two teams for the first time in ten years when a 2nds fifteen they played Rochford 3rds at St Marys Lane and won 15 - 7.
Millwall vs Old Cooperians
October 25th
Old Cooperians travelled to Victoria Park for this table topping match against Millwall with both sides going into the game undefeated in Essex 2.
Millwall immediately attacked from the Coopers kick-off when their centre ran through the Coopers forwards and backs before being tackled on the five yard line by fullback Harry Fayers who saved a certain try. Four successful penalties were exchanged in the first fifteen minutes with both sides scoring six points. On twenty minutes Millwall moved the ball along their backs to feed the left wing who scored in the corner. Coopers were forced to make a change when prop Sean Kavanagh could not carry on and Mike Swain took his place. On twenty eight minutes Coopers gained the lead when right wing Richard Symes touched the ball down for a try before being tackled and hitting the corner flag, Jack Bryan playing on the left wing converted with an excellent kick.. Millwall hit back six minutes later with their second try being scored by the right wing, however with the half time whistle beckoning Coopers forwards were rewarded when a well won ruck ball was picked up by prop Swain to score a try that Bryan converted.
Score at half time: Millwall 16, Old Cooperians 18.
Both sides strived to gain an ascendancy with the ball moving from one end of the field to the other. Millwall broke the deadlock in the 54 minutes when their right wing collected a long pass and sprinted through to score in the corner. Coopers tied the game at 21 points each on fifty seven minutes when Bryan slotted over a penalty kick, however Millwall took a six point lead with two successfull penalty kick only for Coopers to reduce the deficit to three ponts on seventy minutes when Bryan slotted over another penalty kick and bring his tally to fourteen points for the game With full time approaching Millwall attacked and an excellent back row move by their outside centre who fed the left wing to score his second try to put the game out of Coopers reach.
Score at full time: Millwall 32pts, Old Cooperians 24
Man of the Match: Steve Myles
League position after October 25th games
Team P W D L F A Diff Pts
Millwall 5 5 0 0 318 70 248 10
Old Cooperians 5 4 0 1 180 74 106 8
East London 5 4 0 1 161 82 79 8
May & Baker 5 3 0 2 102 83 19 6
Runwell Wyverns 5 2 0 3 147 127 20 4
Burnham-On-Crouch 5 1 0 4 75 169 -94 2
Loughton 5 1 0 4 69 270 -201 2
Kings Cross Steelers 5 0 0 5 53 230 -177 0
Burnaham on Crouch vs Old Cooperians
October 11th
Old Cooperians travelled to Burnham for this Essex 2 encounter and won 22 - 5.
Coopers kicked off and immediately attacked the Burnham defence but were unable to cross the goal line. Play was mainly in Burnhams half of the field and on twenty minutes Coopers took the lead when fly half Jack Bryan slotted over a penalty kick . From the Burnham kick off Coopers caught a clean ball and it was moved sweetly along the backs, out side centre Tommy Lock using his pace beat two defenders and slipped the ballto left wing Richard Symes to run through for a try by the corner flag, that Bryan converted with an excellent kick. On forty minutes fullback Harry Fayers burst though to score under the post,with inside centre Scott Sarson converting.
Score at half time: Burnham 0, Old Cooperians 17 pts
Both sides continued to give away penalties in the second half and the referee sent three Burnham and one Coopers players into the sin bin in the space of ten minutes. Coopers introduced subs Ian Milroy, Kieran Kavanagh and Sean Kavanagh midway through the half. Jack Bryan scored a break away try under the posts on seventy minutes but missed with his conversion kick when the ball struck the post. Burnham never gave up and were rewarded with a late try by their forwards just prior to the final whistle.
Final score: Burnham 5 pts, Old Cooperians 22 pts.
Man of the Match: Tommy Lock
Old Cooperians vs Loughton - Essex 2
October 4th
Old Cooperians hosted Loughton in this Essex 2 game at the School.
With the slope and wind Coopers swept into and immediate lead from kick off when Loughton miss judged the wind and the ball did not travel 10 yds. From the scrum Coopers won the ball and fine passing along the backs saw left wing Richard Symes stride over for the first try that fly half Jack Bryan converted. Loughton could not get into the game and gave away a penalty in their own 22 that Bryan slotted over. On eleven minutes Coopers extended their lead from a ruck and prop Rob Anderson fed Bryan who darted between two Loghton backs to score a try under the posts, that he then converted. On fifteen minutes another excellent passing movement by the backs saw Symes go over for his second try and Coopers were coasting with 22 points in the first quarter. Loughton started to come back into the game and from a tap penalty ran the ball and managed to get the ball over the line but a Coopers hand under the ball prevented a try being scored . However just before the end of the first half Loughton forward won a ruck and their prop broke the Coopers defence for their first converted try.
Score at half time: Old Cooperians 22, Loughton 7
With the wind behind them Loughton took the offensive and within ten minutes of the restart had scored two tries. With some desperate defending Coopers somehow kept Loughton out despite having two forward players being yellow carded for infringements. With the game in the last ten minutes a break away try by centre Tommy Lock disheartened Loughton and in the last five minutes Bryan scored two further tries that he converted.
Man of the match: Joe Wyatt
Final score Old Cooperians 41 pts, Loughton 17 pts.
Dereham vs Old Cooperians - EDF Junior Vase Round 2
September 27th.
Old Cooperians travelled to Dereham, in Norfolk, for this 2nd round tie in the EDF Energy Junior Vase with a bare fifteen players and despite putting up a valiant effort lost by one point.
Coopers had the advantage in the opening minutes of the game and were awarded a penalty in Dereham 22 but attempted to go for a quick tap and run the ball rather than take the kick, however, they were unable to get over the line and 3 points were lost. Dereham heavier pack started to gain an ascendency following injuries to captain and lock Andy Lannin with a torn bicep muscle in his left arm and prop Sean Kavanagh aggravating a torn calf muscle. However with no substitutes available both players remained on the park. On twenty eight minutes Dereham scored their only try when the left wing was fed the ball and scored in the corner. Just on halftime the Dereham flanker was yellow carded for persistent offending and closely followed at the next scrum by Cooper flanker Steve Myles for playing the ball on the ground.
Score at half time: Dereham 5 pts, Old Cooperians 0
Within one minute of the second half Coopers had a penalty kick that fly half Jack Bryan slotted over, however a further penalty attempt two minutes later slipped by the left side of the post. Dereham kicked a penalty on eleven minutes only for Coopers to come back and take a two point lead when right wing Adam Watts went over for a try in the corner that Bryan converted with a magnificent kick . Dereham brought on three subs for the last twenty minutes and with fifteen minutes left scored with a penalty kick to regain the lead by one point. Coopers never gave up and had a last chance to score with a penalty from the half way line but alas the ball did not carry.
Final Score: Dereham 11 pts, Old Cooperians 10 pts.
Man of the Match: Steve Myles
Old Cooperians vs May & Baker - Essex 2
September 20th.
Old Cooperians hosted May & Baker in this Essex 2 encounter at the School.
Coopers hit the ground running and with only two minutes on the clock a well worked move by the backs saw inside centre Brad Tiffin race through for a try under the posts that flyhalf Jack Bryan converted. Coopers had numerous chances to add to the score but it was not until the thirtieth minute that a May & Baker scrum saw the ball fly out from the back of their pack and Coopers flanker Simon Robinson chased the ball and following a mix up by the M&B winger was able to ground the ball for Coopers second try that Bryan converted. With half time beckoning Coopers won a scrum on M&B 22 line and flanker Simon Powell held off three tackles to score an excellent try that Bryan converted.
Score at half time Old Cooperians 21, May & Baker 0.
Coopers made a change to their forwards at half time with Alex Reed replacing Simon Robinson. The game became some what boisterous and the referee had his work cut out to keep order. On twenty three minutes with M&B in Coopers 22 full back Harry Fayers picked up a loose ball and ran 90 yards to score his try under the posts that was converted. M&B at last broke the Coopers defence and scored their only try. Coopers then ran in two tries when winger Watts and Bryan ran through to score with one being converted.
Score at full time Old Cooperians 40 pts, May & Baker 5 pts.
Man of the Match: Brad Tiffin
Kings Cross Steelers vs Old Cooperians - Essex 2
September 13th.
Old Cooperians opened their Essex 2 season with an excellent win away to Kings Cross Steelers.
Coopers got off to a good start and on 5 minutes with the pack controlling an excellent maul in the Steelers 22 saw No8 Ian Milroy able to touch the ball down for the first try. Coopers then gave away a number of penalties, and from one Steelers reduced the deficit in the fifteenth minute, and two minutes later Steelers fullback broke through Coopers defence to score a try. In the twenty fourth minutes Coopers fly half Jack Bryan took a quick tap penalty and fed the ball to flanker Rob Andersen who crashed over for a try that Bryan converted. Coopers had a number of chances but could not add to the score until half time beckoned when a series of good passes between hooker Sean Kavanagh and flanker Steve Myles sent full back Harry Fayers over for his first try.
Score at half time Kings X Steelers 8, Old Cooperians 17.
Coopers made two changes for the second half with lock Ross Smith and centre Dirk de Villiers coming on and with a re juggled pack with Brad Tiffin moving to flanker Coopers commenced to dominate the game and tries flowed. Lock Rob Lancaster fed Fayers who ran through for his second try which was followed by an excellent surging run by Kavanagh before passing to flanker Steve Myles to feed Bryan for his second try, which he then converted. Two further tries were added by Tiffin when assisted by Andersen and Bryan respectively. Steelers got into the action, half way through the half, from a quickly taken tap penalty by the inside centre, on Coopers 22, who ran through a static Coopers defence to score a converted try. Coopers brought on winger Kieran Kavanagh as a direct replacement for Richard Symes. With ten minutes to go Bryan took a tap penalty on the half way line which was charged down by Steelers allowing Bryan to run through pick up the ball and continue running some 40 yards to score his second converted try. Fayers then added his third try when excellent running and passing between Kavanagh and Andersen presented the ball to Bryan who fed Fayers to score under the posts and then converted the kick.
Final score Kings Cross Steelers 15 pts, Old Cooperians 53 pts.
Man of the Match: Terry Snooks
Old Cooperians vs Writtle Wanderers - Friendly
September 6th.
Old Cooperians had a friendly at home against Writtle Wanderers of Essex 1's and were decisive winners by 29 points to nil.
In pouring rain Coopers immediately went on the attack and on 5 minutes Writtle conceded a penalty in front of there posts, flanker and man of the match Simon Powell took a quick tap and passed the ball to No 8 Andy Lannin, then on to prop Rob Anderson who fed right winger Adam Watts to run through for his first try. On ten minutes Coopers won the ball on the half way line and quick ball along the backs resulted in Adam Watts scoring his second try and his fifth in two games. Jack Bryan converted to add two further points. On twenty minutes Coopers extended their lead when a break away saw left wing Harrison Peacock collect the ball and make a fine run to score his try in the corner. Coopers with eight substitutes brought them all at this point to give every one at least twenty minutes play in the pouring rain. Just on half time a maul developed in Writtle's 22 and Coopers forwards forced Writtle's pack back over their goal line and Simon Powell touched down for his try.
Score at half time Old Cooperians 22, Writtle 0
With the rain continuing to pour down the 2nd half became some what scrappy and Coopers only score was a try from centre Tom Lock which Scott Sarson slotted over for the added points.
Final Score Old Cooperians 29 pts, Writtle Wanderers 0.
Man of the Match: Simon Powell
Phantoms vs Old Cooperians - Essex President Shield - Preliminary Round
August 30th
Coopers open Season with against Phantoms in prelim round of Presidents' Shield and what a start.
Within five minutes of the start Coopers won a scrum inside Phantoms
22 and hooker Rob Anderson was fed the ball and burst through under
the posts for the first try that fullback Harry Fayers converted. On
twenty minutes from another scrummage Anderson fed prop Lee Morgan
who broke two tackles to score a try that Fayers converted. The third
try was again from the forwards when No8 and captain Andy Lannin made
a diagonal run to split Phantoms defence to score with Fayers
converting. The next two tries were score by right winger Adam Watts
following excellent passing of the ball along the back row and with
fast finishing Watts who ran through to score under the posts with Fayers
converting both tries.
>
Score at halftime Phantoms 0, Old Cooperians 35
>
Phantoms kept a spirited attack going however were overwhelmed by a
rampaging Coopers side and the second half was a repeat of the first
with a further six tries being scored by Morgan, Fayers 2, Watts, and
flanker Chris Webber and centre Brad Tiffin?, with Fayers converting
three of them.
Final score Phantoms 0, Old Cooperians 71.
Man of the Match: Harry Fayers
>
Season 2007/8
April 12th - Coopers travelled to Thames for this their last game of the season.
Coopers immediately took the initiative when on two minutes centre Jack Bryan intercepted a pass and ran through to score a try in the corner which he then converted. Thames were awarded a penalty when Coopers handled in a ruck and reduced the dficit. Coopers then missed a penalty kick against a gusting wind. However Thames forwards and backs then showed why they are top of Essex 2
and scored three tries, which were all converted to lead by 24 points to seven at half time.
The second half was a repeat of the first with Bryan scoring a try, only for Thames to add a further three tries of which two were converted.
Final score Thames 43, Old Cooperians 12
March 15th - Old Cooperians hosted Runwell, who had clinched the Essex 3 title the previous week, in a friendly game and took the opportunity to give a run out to many of their young players home from university for the Easter break.
The Coopers light weight pack could not hold the heavier Runwell forwards and it was not surprising when Runwell opened the scoring in the fifth minute when quick ball from the forwards was passed along the backs for their winger to score the first try. This was repeated in the tenth minute when their centre burst through to score a try under the post that was converted. Coopers with numerous substitutes made some changes to the pack and held Runwell for the remainder of the first half.
Score at half time Old Cooperians 0 ,Runwell 12 pts
Some serious talking at half time by the Coopers coach Rob Anderson resulted in two tries by Coopers in the first five minutes of the second half both scored by winger Jake Snellin following good running by full back Harry Fayers. Fly half Jack Bryan was successful with one of the conversions. Niether side was able to add to their scoring and the game finished in a draw.
Score at full time Old Cooperians 12 pts, Runwell 12 pts
March 1st - Old Cooperians hosted Kings X Steelers in this excellent Essex 2 League game.
Coopers kicked off and immediately went on the attack when Steelers knocked on in attempting to catch the high ball. Three scrums later Coopers were on Steelers five yard line and were awarded a penalty for hands in the ruck. Fly half Jack Bryan took a quick tap penalty and like a flash was over the goal line for the first try that he then converted with only two minutes played. On six minutes Coopers had a player yellow carded and from the penalty Steelers were successful with the kick. On twelve minutes Steelers forwards set up excellent ball for their centre to run through and score a converted try. On nineteen minutes Coopers won a ruck and quick ball from Bryan to inside centre Brad Tiffin provided the space for him to beat three Steelers defenders and score his first try that Bryan converted. Steelers would not lie down and on twenty two minutes another series of miss tackles permitted Steelers wing to score under the posts for a converted try. As the first half was coming to a close Coopers packs won a ruck, on Steelers 5 yards line, prop Rob Anderson fed lock Michael de la Fuente for him to score his first try of the season which Bryan converted.
Score at half time: Old Cooperians 21, Kings X Steelers 17.
Coopers made a number of changes for the second half and with Ian Milroy coming on the pack regained some direction. On forty three minutes Club captain and No 8 Andy Lannin scored under the post for a converted try. Steelers replied on fifty minutes with an unconverted try.however as the game flowed Coopers forwards were turning their opponents, over as tiredness crept in, and good ball from scrum half Ben Soper allowed both full back Harry Fayers and Brad Tiffin to increase Coopers try count to six for the game.
Final score: Old Cooperians 38 pts, Kings X Steelers 22 pts.
February 23rd. Old Cooperians had a friendly game away to East London.
On ten minutes Coopers won a ruck on the half way line, quick ball from flyhalf Jack Bryan to centre Richard Symes who beat two attempted tackles in making some thirty yards before scoring the first try that Bryan converted. Eat London with fast wing men retaliated in the seventeenth minute with a try by the corner flag. Coopers came back three minutes later when a tap penalty, on East London's 22 by Bryan, set up centre Brad Tiffin for Coopers second try. With two minutes left of the first half East London were awarded a penalty try for an infringement in a ruck following a number of other penalties as Coopers defence attempted to keep East London out.
Score at half time East London 12, Old Cooperians 12
A penalty kick by Bryan early in the second half closely followed by a high cross field kick by Bryan enable Tiffin to score Coopers third try. However East London winger slipped through a number of Coopers tackle to score a try in the fifty fifth minute. It was not until the last five minutes when East london took the lead with an excellent try and an the closing minutes settled the game as Coopers attack was broken down and East London ran through for their fifth try.
Score at full time East London 29, Old Cooperians 20
February 16th. Old Cooperians travelled to Coryton for this close Essex 2 encounter with Pegasus
Coopers took the lead on ten minutes when centre Richard Symes pick up a ball from the back of a ruck quickly fed flanker Stephen Myles who off loaded to outside centre Brad Tiffin who dummied the defence for passing the ball to fullback Harry Fayers who ran through tto score the first try that fly half Jack Bryan converted. With Coopers dominating the play on twenty one minutes Fayers was brought down illegally in Pegasus 22 and from a qquickly taken tap penalty by Bryan the ball was passed to lock Rob Lancaster who made some twenty yards to score his first try of the season. At thirty four minutes Tiffin playing his first game since an ankle injury early in December collected a high kick on the half way line and a cross field run of some fifty yards was only stopped when he was pulled back by the collar as he attempted to ground the ball by the corner flag - the referee awrded a penalty try and yellow carded the Pegasus player, Bryan converted the try. Pegasus were rewarded in injury time when their forwards surged over for their first try.
Score at half time Pegasus 5, Old Cooperians 19
Pegasus maintained their momentum into the second half and their pack began winning the rucks and mauls resulting in two converted tries in the fiftieth and seventy fifth minutes to level the score. Coopers defence held firm and in the last minute of normal time Coopers knocked on when some thirty yards into Pegasus half. From the Pegasus put in Coopers won the ball against the head and a well waited pass to Bryan gave him the time to score a drop goal and win the game for Coopers
Final score Pegasus 19 pts, Old Cooperians 22 pts
February 9th. Old Cooperians hosted a strong Bishop Stortford 3rd's and an excellent game of rugby was had.
Coopers attacked from the start and within six minutes were three points up from a penalty for a high tackle when full back Harry Fayers was brought down on the five yard line with the goal line at his mercy. Stortford came back strongly with some excellent passing between their backs and scored their first converted try on ten minutes, and on twenty three minutes increased their lead with another back row move that resulted in their second try. Coopers pack became dominant and following three scrums on Stortford's five yard line, Stortford requested uncontested scrums that was agreed to.
Score at half time Old Cooperians 3, Bishop Stortford 3rd's 12
Coopers came out strongly and dominant forward play in Stortford'd 22 resulted in a well worked try for scrum half Ben Prior playing his first senior game for the club. Ten minutes later Cooper took the lead when winger Jake Snellin picked up the ball following a Stortford lineout that went 'pear shaped' side stepped two players and scored a try that Bryan converted. Stortford still playing good rugby would not be beaten and with two quick tries one of which was converted regained the lead. However Coopers forwards won a ruck Bryan was fed the ball and an excellent cross field kick was collected by Fayers who was flying and scored a try that Bryan converted to reduce the difference to two points in Stortford's favour. With no scores for the next ten minutes the game was into injury time when Stortford handled in a ruck on their 22 side line and the referee gave a penalty that Bryan successfully kicked and won the game for Coopers by one point.
Final score Old Cooperians 25, Bishop Stortford 3rd's 24
February 2nd. Without a league game this week Old Cooperians visited Bancroft for a friendly against their 2nd's.
Coopers had just fifteen players while Bancroft's had twenty four players in their squad for the game. With a strong wind blowing acros the pitch the game was fast and furious for the first twenty minutes with numerous infringements and knock-on's. On twenty minutes a pick up by fly-half Jack Bryan and quick inside ball to centre Harry Fayers produced Coopers first try that was converted by Bryan. Ten minutes later following a series of miss tackles by Coopers allowed Bancrofts to score a try.
Score at half-time Bancroft's 5, Old Cooperians 12.
Three minutes into the second half an excellent passage of play by Coopers forwards was rewarded when Fayers was again the recipient of an excellent pass to score a try in the corner. However two minutes later Bancroft's responded an went over under the post for a converted try. On 50 minutes flanker Simon Robinson made yardage into Bancroft 22 then slipped the ball to Fayers to score his third try of the game that Bryan converted. Coopers forwards were dominating the rucks and mauls and further pressure gave the opportunity for veteran prop Chris Nicholls, playing his first game of the season, to pick the ball from the base of the ruck and make two yards before scoring a try under the posts that was converted. An excellent move on seventy minutes by Coopers backs was rewarded when Centre Richard Symes dived over for Coopers fifth try of the game.
Score at full- time Bancroft 2nd's 12pts, Old Cooperians 33 pts
- Dec 22nd. Upper Clapton 2's 12, Old Cooperians 37. (Essex 2)
- December 15th. Old Cooperians 10, Thames 16. (Essex 2)