Coops pass tough test

05 February 2010

OLD COOPERIANS returned to winning ways in Essex One with a hard-fought 10-0 success over Old Brentwoods at St Mary's Lane.

Keen to avenge a home loss in their earlier meeting, Brentwoods made a strong start and forced the home side on to the defensive.

But they were unable to make their early pressure count as strong tackling from Coopers kept the visitors at bay.

Brentwoods were penalised for a string of infringements and eventually reduced to 14 men when their no.8 was yellow-carded.

Harry Fayers missed a great chance to give the hosts the lead when he sliced a penalty wide from in front of the posts.

Coopers no.8 Simon Powell was then sent to the sin-bin for not rolling away in the tackle area and the scoreline remained blank at the interval.

Brentwoods began the second half well, but full-back James Edgar sent a return kick downfield, with flanker Alex Reed putting in a good tackle on the catcher to force a turnover.

The ball was then moved on to centre Scott Sarson, who ran along the left touchline and beat off the covering defence to touch down.

Coopers dominated in the forwards for most of the game, with hooker Ray Flowers winning the majority of scrums.

Aarron Waller and Richard Symes came on for Mark Newman and Sarson and Coopers held the visitors at bay in the final quarter with more solid defensive work.

With time almost up, Coopers followed up on another kick, with Reed forcing another turnover, and some good passing gave fly-half Tom Murphy the chance to slip through a tackle and force his way over the line with help from his forwards to seal victory.