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