Old Cooperians Starting Line Up:

1. Jim Hardingham
2. Paul Garner
3. Terry Chaplin
4. George West
5. John Pomeroy
6. Ken Fry
7. Nicky Miller
8. Matt Wellsman
9. Ross Milroy
10. Marcus Docker
11. Sam Chapman
12. Connor Toolis
13. Sam Wheeler
14. Alex Whitbourne
15. Tom Scott

Subs:

Martin Hennessey
LewisHennessey
Ross Cant
Sol West
Joe Simpson
Chris Dann
Shaun Coleman

Old Cooperians travelled a short way over to Upminster Rugby club to face their local rivals in the most trecherous conditions in the season so far. The players and fans were subject to a battering of biter cold strong cross winds, a sprinkling of snow and to finish it off a shower of rain.

The Coopers boys began the game with a heavy bombardment of attack on the Upminster defense. Upminster found themselves planted inside their own 22 for a good 10 minutes until an effort from Kenny Fry was held 2m short of the oppositions try line. Nicky Miller went for the next opportunity for the line and was also held short by the Upminster forwards.

Coopers eventually found themselves penalised and Upminster were able to clear their lines. An opportunity that should have been taken. The scores were 0-0 until 5 minutes from half time when the Upminster boys crashed over the line and scored a scrappy try. Due to the cross winds, the conversion was unsuccessful.

Half Time - Upminster 5 - 0 Old Cooperians

The second half saw Upminster put their foot on the gas, and start to play plenty of switch play from their strong outside centre runner. He broke through the back line and was closing in for the try, when full back Tom Scott made a cracking tackle and sat him down.

Upminster continued the pressure but eventually gave away a penalty and an opportunity for Coopers to clear their lines. The last 15 minutes of play saw to fantastic runs for both Sam Chapman and Connor Toolis. Heavy attack from the Coopers boys saw them 3m short of the Upminster try line when Matt Wellsman barged his way over the line. Conversion Unsuccessful.

Upminster 5-5 Old Cooperians

The final 10 minutes saw the Coopers boys in their own 22m for the remainder of the game defending for the draw. Every Coopers boy made a tackle to protect their lines. Upminster explored the flanks and they were still not able to break the defense. 30 seconds from the end, the ref gave Coopers a scrum infront of their own posts. The scrum wheeled 90 Degrees and the ref questionnably awarded Upminster a penalty for Coopers "Wheeling their own scrum". Dispite many people questionning the referees decision, Upminster easily slotted the ball through the sticks.

The ref immediately blew the whilstle for Full Time and Coopers were defeated. Gutted by a mistake that the referee later admitted that was "incorrect".

However,. Upminster were tough opponents and showed alot more front than when they visited St Mary's Lane. They gave us a great game to build from but next week we face an even stronger set of opponents away at East London RFC. This will be a big test of physicallity against a very well drilled side.