Coopers bloom in Vase

06 November 2009

OLD COOPERIANS booked their place in the next round of the Junior Vase with a comfortable 42-12 win over Crusaders.

The home side started well, recycling the ball through 12 phases only to lose it close to the Crusaders line.

Harry Fayers collected the clearing kick, though, and ran it back to score a try in the corner and break the deadlock.

An excellent crossfield kick by fly-half Jack Bryan was caught by Fayers in the goal area on 13 minutes for a second try and prop Rob Anderson combined with lock Stephen Myles before Joey Wyatt and Bryan linked to send Mark Newman in at the corner for a third score.

Crusaders had a period of sustained pressure leading up the interval and got some reward with a converted try.

But the hosts had the final say of the half when a maul on the Crusaders 22 was pushed towards the line for Brad Tiffin to touch down and make it 20-7.

Crusaders opened the second-half scoring with a penalty, but a strong run by lock Michael de la Fuente enabled the backs to feed the ball out to Newman who ran under the posts for his second try which Bryan converted.

Bryan was yellow-carded for killing the ball soon after and Crusaders kicked the penalty to make it 27-13.

But Wyatt replied with a penalty for the home side, who brought on James Allchurch for flanker Dean Foley, Adam Watts for centre Richard Symes and Tom Murphy for Wyatt.

Man of the match Anderson won a scrum against the head on 70 minutes and no.8 Alex Reid picked up the ball to break through two tackles and score.

The final Coopers try was again made by winger Newman who ran from the halfway line to score under the posts with Bryan converting the kick.

The 2nd XV travelled for a Merit Table game against South Woodham Ferrers 3rds, but lost by a single point.