Coopers First XV v Waimea College First Half The game was preluded by Waimea College’s scintillating performance of the Haka. The New Zealand side kicked off proceedings with a high kick that was well taken under pressure by the captain Russell Draper, who was tackled in the air while challenging for the ball, giving Coopers’ their first penalty just seconds into the match. This allows Coopers’ to kick the ball into the opposition twenty-two, but a knock on from the resulting lineout leads to a scrum for Waimea. The Coopers’ pack does well to win the scrum against the head, and a powerful carry by Draper from the back of the scrum leads to a well executed backs move finished between the posts by Fred Houseago for his first try of the tour and Coopers’ first of the game. Tom Morgan converts. Coopers’ 7-0 Waimea After kick-off, Coopers’ again maintain possession and field position, but are eventually turned over. Waimea struggle to clear their lines, but eventually pull off a complex backs move which stretches the Coopers’ defensive line, but luckily the final pass is fumbled. Scrum to Coopers’. From the scrum, some quick offload play from the backs allows Tom Morgan to find Ed Stannard, who runs the final few metres to score another Coopers’ try. Morgan converts again. Coopers’ 14-0 Waimea Coopers’ again launch strong attacks deep in the opponent’s twenty-two but fail to convert and the ball is eventually turned over. Waimea have their first good spell of possession 25 minutes into the first half. A big hit from Ed Stannard on the Waimea scrum half draws raptures from the crowd and gives possession back to Coopers’. A scrappy period ensues, with neither side able to break down the other, until a kick to clear Coopers’ lines gives the men in blue a good field position, and the resulting line out is turned over by the Coopers’ pack. This gives the backs a good opportunity to attack. A long mispass finds Liam Batty on the wing, who confidently beats his last man to finish the try in the corner. Morgan kicks his third conversion of the game. Coopers’ 21-0 Waimea Yet another Coopers’ attack leads to a penalty for Coopers’ in a good position. Morgan volunteers to take, but his attempt is just wide of the right post. The first half ends with the score 21-0 to the touring side. Second Half The New Zealand team came out at the start of the second half like a proverbial “box of bombs”, scoring a quick counterattacking try after a short period of possession for Coopers’. Coopers’ 21-5 Waimea Despite Coopers’ being shocked back into action by the opposition try, Waimea continue to dominate possession early in the second period, without providing a real tryscoring threat. After a while however, Coopers’ regain possession and find some forward momentum, and are eventually rewarded with a penalty in the opposing twenty-two. Tom Lucas-Roast stepped up to take the kick, but his effort flew just wide of the left upright. Coopers’ continued pressure from Coopers’ and repeated phase play allows Alex Meads to offload out of a tackle to put the dynamic Fred Houseago in for his second try of the match. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful. Coopers’ 26-5 Waimea Coopers’ again retain possession, and some devastating running from Matt Johnson gives the visitors another opportunity to attack in the opponents twenty-two. After some loose play from a tap and go penalty the ball falls to Finlay Hyde who carries strongly before offloading to Tom Morgan who scores under the posts. A simple conversion from Morgan secures the extra two points. Coopers’ 33-5 Waimea Fatigue causes the home team to crumble late on in the game, and straight from kickoff, great offloading play from Coopers’ allows them to score another quick try through Tom Lucas-Roast. Another conversion is successful. Coopers’ 40-5 Waimea As the final whistle draws ever closer, Coopers’ find themselves once again in the Waimea twenty-two after great offloading play down the wing, with Jack Kite brought down agonisingly close to the try line. From the ensuing ruck, Tom Morgan finds himself in space a few metres out, and cooly converts the try after a confident dummy pass. The conversion attempt is missed. Coopers 45-5 Waimea This is the last act of the game, as the referee blows his final whistle. Final Score: Coopers’ 45-5 Waimea