Old Cooperians travelled to Victoria Park for this encounter with
Millwall who are leading the Essex 2 league table and lost out by
seven tries to two.

Millwall opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a well worked
try that was converted however it was another twenty two minutes
before they added their second try. On thirty minutes an excellent
effort by Coopers pack allowed fly half Jack Bryan to collect the
ball and dummy past two defenders to score a try that he then
converted. Millwall came back strongly and on thirty five minutes
scored their third try that was converted. Score at halftime Millwall
19, Old Cooperians 7.

The second half saw Coopers attacking however a break away allowed
Millwall to add another converted try in the fiftieth minute. Both
sides added three points from a penalty kicks and in the last quarter
Millwall scored three more tries two of which were converted before
Coopers full back Brad Tiffin reduced the deficit with an excellent
try under the posts which Bryan converted.

Final score Millwall 48, Old Cooperians 17

Clacton Vs Old Cooperians (Lge)

Old Cooperians travelled to Clacton for this Essex 2 league game and
came away with a blank sheet for the first time this season.

Clacton with the wind and slope in their favour kept Coopers penned
in their own half, however with the referee's whistle being blown
continuosly for numerous knockons, offsides and other infringements
the game did not flow. Clacton opened the scoring on thirty five
minutes with a penalty given for an offside in front of the Coopers
posts. Score at halftime Clacton 3, Coopers 0

The second half started with the Clacton pack attacking and only an
excellent tackle by flanker Chris Webber prevented a try. Clacton
extended their lead with another penalty kick and although Coopers
had three penaltiy kicks, without a regular kicker available, none
were successful. Coopers full back and new signing Harry Fayers had
an excellent game in some clean catching of high kicks and quick runs
into Clacton's territory before being tackled. Coopers forwards were
having problems in providing clean ball from rucks and mauls and
midway through the half a turnover ball allowed the Clacton flyhalf
to run through and score the only try of the game. Coopers came back
strongly and flyhalf Luke Taylor got within a yard of Clacton's line,
but could not get over the line.

Final score Clacton 11, Old Cooperians 0

Old Cooperians Vs Clacton - President Shield

Old Cooperians were hosting Clacton in this 2nd round of the Essex
President Shield game. With both teams having the same number of
points in Essex 2 league and Clacton having won the first league
encounter by two points a close game was expected and those watching
were not disappointed.

Coopers started with only fourteen players as No 8 Steve Myles was
held up in traffic and on arrival he did not have prop Lee Morgan
with him. On ten minutes Clacton won a maul and their No4 barreled
over for a converted try and some five minutes later extended their
lead with penalty kick in front of the posts. At this stage it looked
as though Coopers cup run was over but with Rob Anderson playing
scrum half and captain he rallyed the Coopers pack and they drove the
Clacton forwards backwards. On twenty minutes following some heroic
forward play by Coopers forcing Clacton into their 22 and prop Andy
Fry was able to dive over for a try, that fly half Jack Bryan
converted. Coopers then drew level with a penalty kick by Bryan and
with some ill disciplined play by Clacton took the lead with another
penalty kick by Bryan. Score at half time Old Cooperians 13, Clacton 10.

The second half was fast and furious and resulted in one Cooperian
and three Clacton players receiving yellow cards. Coopers were not
able to take advantage of the extra men and Clacton played some good
passing plays, but stout defending by all Coopers players kept them
at bay and with another two penalty kicks to one for Clacton as Bryan
extended Coopers lead to 6 points and took his own tally to 14
points. With fifteen minutes still to play constant pressure on
Coopers forwards finally told and Clacton were rewarded with a well
taken try down the blind side however the attempted convertion kick
was not successful and Coopers won the game by 1 point. Final score
Old Cooperians 19, Clacton 18

Old Cooperians Vs Thames

Old Cooperians hosted Thames in this Essex 2 game and ran out worthy
winners by 34 points.

Coopers with three first team players missing and with a light weight
pack had to fiercely contest each scrum as Thames sought to maximise
their weight advantage. On ten minutes Coopers forwards won a ruck
and with quick ball along the backs to right winger Adam Watts he
used all his speed to run the ball in for his first try that was
converted by scrum half Simon Meacher. Coopers second try and the
best of the match came six minutes later when flanker Rob Anderson
received the ball after excellent quick ball and selling the Thames
defence a dummy it enabled him to beat two defenders and score his
try that was converted by Meacher. Thames came back strongly and on
thirty four minutes following a number of scrums on the Coopers 5
yard line were able to use their weight and push the Coopers pack
back over the line to allow their No8 to touch down for a try.
Score at halftime Old Cooperians 14, Thames 5

Coopers picked up the pace in the third quarter as Thames run out of
steam and with two successful penalty kicks by Meacher and an amazing
second try by Watts, when he ran fully forty yards, stopped,
piroutted found he still had not been tackled and so glided over the
goal line for a try that was converted. The fourth quarter saw
three more tries for Coopers from fullback Brad tiffin, inside centre
Paul Clifford and scrum half Meacher with two of them being
converted. Thames scored a converted try as the game came to a close.

Final score Old Cooperians 46, Thames 12

Old Cooperians travelled to Coryton for game against Pegasus
Palmerians and in blustery conditions on an excellent pitch won by
eleven points.

Coopers from the kick off played excellent rugby with the forwards
winning both rucks and mauls giving scrum half Kelly the opportunity
to feed good balls to his backs. Within three minutes Coopers were
denied a try when the Niall Kelly was tacked just shy of the goal
line and the ball was knocked on, however with Pegasus being caught
offside fly half J Bryan slotted over the kick. On nine minutes
another well worked move by both forwards and backs resulted in Bryan
scoring a try that he then converted. Coopers continued to dominate
play and a second penalty kick saw Bryan add to his score with a
well taken kick. in the thirtieth fifth minutes from a maul in
Pegasus's 22 the ball was again won by Coopers forwards and a quick
pickup by inside centre Paul Clifford enabled him to shimmy around
the melee and score his try. Score at half-time Pegasus 0, Old
Cooperians 18.

The second half produced some stout defending by Pegasus that kept
Coopers from scoring any further points and with the last play of the
game the referee missed a knock on by Pegasus on their own 5 yard
line which allowed one of their backs to collect the ball and
outstrip the Coopers backs in a 95 yard dash for the Coopers line and
score under the posts with the kick being converted.

Final score Pegasus Palmerians 7, Old Cooperians 18.

Old Cooperians hosted Burnham in this Essex 2 game in torrential rain and ran out winners by eight points.

Coopers started strongly from the Burnham kick off when prop Lee Morgan caught the kick and with a strong run broke the first line of Burnham defence. From the ruck, scrum half Niall Kelly passed the ball to No 8 Andy Lannin who broke into the Burnham's 22, and again quick ball saw flanker Rob Andersen barrel towards the line however the Burnham fullback collected a loose ball and attempted a clearance kick that went from their right corner flag to the left side of the field where it was well caught by prop Sean Kavanagh who skipped over the goal line for his first try of the season. Burnham attacked and were awarded a penalty when Coopers had a hand in a ruck, however shortly after for a similar offence Coopers were themselves given a penalty kick that flyhalf Jack Bryan slotted over. With the rain falling heavily both sides had difficulty in handling resulting in many knock-ons although both sides were playing a running game. On thirty minutes inside centre Paul Clifford playing his second game since a three months layoff through injury caught the ball on the halfway line and with a change of pace out stripped the Burnham backs and score an excellent solo try that Bryan converted.
Score at halftime Old Cooperians 18 Burnham 10.

The second half had only one score when Coopers were awarded a penalty midway through the half that Bryan slotted over. The last ten minutes saw Burnham giving their all and encamped on Coopers five yard line but were unable to break the Coopers defence.