Match Report | |
| Date - 11th November 2000 | Old Cooperians 1st -v- Old Brentwoods 1st XV |
| Cherry & Whites Storm to 8th Place! | |
| Old Brentwoods won! 28 - 3 | |
|
Maybe it was the change strip of cherry and white that brought a change of fortune for the Old Brentwoods, or maybe it was the fact that they were playing fellow strugglers Old Cooperians, but the away side worked hard enough to storm to 8th place in the league. Playing downhill and with the wind in the first half, the Old Brentwoodian pack quickly gained the upper hand in the set piece, and Coopers settled for a spoiling game which disrupted much of the away side’s ball and stopped the backs from getting into full flow. Such was the frustration that scrum half Rigden delivered the biggest rollicking of the day - to himself!! However, the forwards battered their way down the field time and again with notable running from Aim, Clancy and Buchanan. Coopers were forced into conceding a couple of kickable penalties which were converted by Cutmore senior which provided some breathing space. The home team seemed unable to clear their lines and with some marvellous lineout jumping from new-boy Ed Gooday providing the cleanest ball, the Old Boys were able to turn up the pressure. This eventually led to a much needed breakthrough when Jason Lee spotted his chance to blast over for the opening try. Just when the floodgates were expected to open, Coopers ground their way back up the pitch to score a penalty in front of the posts to leave the game on a knife-edge at 13-3 to the away side at half time. Old Brentwoods, despite playing up hill and into the wind were much the better side in the second half. The forwards really took a grip & when Coopers did secure any ball they could not make any ground. They were knocked down in midfield with some aggressive tackling by Reah and Holmes, lost possession when they kicked to touch and when they kicked over the top, Cutmore was more than equal to the task. This led to the home team forwards growing increasingly impatient, and when Holmes scored a well worked try to open the scoring in the second half, there then followed a series of infringements, which granted the Old Brentwoods the respite they needed. It proved an inspired decision to play with the wind in the first half, because as the half wore on, the wind changed to blowing across the pitch. The away team secured more and more clean ball and Rigden and Cutmore junior really got the backs running. Such was the confidence that the ball was run from deep inside the Old Brentwoods half and passed through half a dozen pairs of hands before Hannaway finished off in the corner. A late try from Cutmore L. gave an unrealistic edge to the scoreline at 28 - 3, but despite this, Coopers rallied around and upped their tempo for the last 10 minutes. But it was too little too late. Ultimately they were outclassed by an imperious performance from the Old Brentwoods pack who have rediscovered their form over the last couple of weeks. It all bodes well for the next crunch game against South Woodham Ferrers on the 25th November. | |
| Old Brentwoods Scorers
Tries - Jason Lee(1), James Holmes(1), Neil Hannaway(1), Laurie Cutmore(1) | |
| Player Player Award - Ed Gooday | |
| Team
Prop - Steve Aim Scrum Half - Alastair Rigden Subs - Scott Inglis, Paul Buchanan |
|