The hottest rivalry in Essex rugby was able to continue in London N/E 3, with Campion and Old Cooperians finishing first and second respectively in the Canterbury Jack League. Both sides are young, play a similar brand of wide, pacey rugby and most of all; want the bragging rights until the next time they meet. This fixtures has been one to circle each time the two ‘school alumni’ clubs find themselves in the same league, and rarely they pass without controversy and talking points.

Campion came into the game on the back of an unbeaten league run that spans across 2 seasons and 21 games. They had no easy start to the league, taking the scalp of unbeaten side Cantabs and fought hard to hold on to a 24-23 victory against their most proximate rivals Upminster. Old Cooperians have only won one out of three, but lost narrowly to two sides who Campion have picked up 8 league points against; Upminster and Wanstead. From league statistics alone, it was clear that this was going to be an exciting and close game.

Campion’s preparation was disrupted by unavailability and injury. James Ngan was ruled out after going off last week and the influential Stephen Canny and Rob Kyle were both unavailable for selection. Dan Bolton dropped back into the back row with James Dupree and the impressive Will Trapp regaining their place in the second row. Ulsterman Iain Liddle returned to the 1st XV after a long time to cover for Rob Kyle, as tighthead Lee Fitzmaurice shifted across to his former position of hooker. Campion selected a large set of backs, with captain Dave Armstrong returning to the side. Liam McEvoy was selected to wear the scrum half shirt, whilst Matt Slade returned to action on the wing.

A large crowd gathered at Cotton’s Park as Rory Crisp kicked off short. Campion quickly showed Coopers the pressure that their defense has put on each side they have met previously. Ollie Waugh once again was strong in the contact area, and the first few exchanges of the match were aggressive. From the start, it was clear that both sides were looking to go wide. Early in the first half, Campion mounted an attack from their opponents 22m line. Number 8, Connor Canny took the ball, running straight through the opposition fly half. As he bounded towards the line he was pressured by the Coopers fullback. In the process of diving for the line, he spilt the ball a mere metre away from the goal. This action inspired the Campion pack, dominant in the last two meetings in the scrum, to push the Coopers pack back over their own line where their scrum half touched down after a strong tackle from Liam McEvoy. Whilst both sets of forwards were preparing to reset for another scrum, Coopers took a quick, short 22 drop out which was run the entire length of the pitch, under the posts and duly converted. The referee deemed this to be within the laws of the game, despite this being a defensive 5 metre scrum. The Campion side, clearly disturbed by this passage of play and confused by this application of the laws, looked fired up and spent a long time battling get over the line. A series of penalties from Old Cooperians on their own line saw the first yellow card of the game, to their tighthead prop. After strong carrying from James Dupree and Charlie Baker, Campion opted to take the 3 points to make the score 7-3; Rory Crisp opening his account for the day.

Campion failed to capitalise upon the advantage of having an extra man. The Cooperians side had fronted up and their back row were working extra hard to keep the Campion ball out. Their fullback was a threat all game, and broke the line several times. Luke Maguire was there to answer him each time with excellent cover defense. Greg Hanshaw ensured that his wing was closed off and Campion were able to keep the ball out of their own area.

Seemingly omnipresent flanker Dan Bolton was sent to the sin-bin for slowing the ball down after one of the fullbacks breeches of the campion defence, and Coopers were able to capitalise upon this. Their own flanker was able to creep over the line. As Campion regathered under the posts, Dave Armstrong gave a rallying call to hold on and keep playings heads up rugby as the Coopers fly half missed the conversion. Campion were within reach of the lead still at 12-3.

The half time talk confirmed that Campion needed to tighten their drift defence. From the kick off, Will Trapp imposed himself in the contact area and deemed to have arrived early. This set the tone for the second half; neither side was going to back down and a fiery affair would continue. With Dan Bolton returning to the field, Coopers applied the pressure and their influential fullback managed to slot a drop goal to extend their lead to 15-3. Shortly after, the game was turned sour when a one of the Old Cooperian forwards was red carded for a stamp on captain Dave Armstrong’s nose at the bottom of the ruck, breaking it in several places. Armstrong left the field to go to hospital, with James Jenkins returning on the wing; Matt Slade moved back to his primary position of inside centre. The Campion side kept their discipline and looked to retaliate with points. James Jenkins soon crashed over the line in the corner as the usually potent Campion backs, orchestrated by Dan Walshe, sent him over. Rory Crisp was unable to convert the long penalty but Campion were back in the game at 15-8. The Coopers full back later had another opportunity to slot another drop-goal, but sent the ball just to the right.

Throughout the game, the Campion lineout remained strong. With Rob ‘9 dart’ Kyle unavailable, Ollie Waugh, a former hooker himself at schoolboy level assumed throwing duties, with regular prop Lee Fitzmaurice providing an effective lifting unit with Charles Baker. James Dupree remained strong in the lineout, and Campion dominated that area of the game. Old Cooperians opted after not long to shorten their lineout to avoid confrontation up front, involving their pacey backs in the game more often.

The following passage of play summed up Campion’s day at Cotton’s Park. Coopers found themselves down to 13 men with another player sent to the sin-bin for persistently giving away penalties on their own line. Campion tried to get over for the all important try, but were penalised for holding on to the ball a number of times. This was a persistent thorn in the Campion side. The Old Cooperian back row slowed the ball down enough (and were penalised on more than one occasion for doing so illegally) and the Campion simply didn’t ruck quickly enough in these situations. Scrum Half Mitch Bogard entered the equation and was strong as ever in defence and quick to launch attacks from the base of the ruck.

With Coopers returning to 14 men, Campion pressured their line for the remainder of the match. Club stalwart Neil Lynch returned to the 1st XV as a late replacement for Iain Liddle, and Dan Walshe was given the chance to go over one final time at the end of the game, but was tackled shortly before the line. Another penalty was given away much to the frustration of the Campion side and the referee deemed this to be the last play. Coopers kicked the ball out much to the delight of their players and fans. As the Campion side made the traditional tunnel at the end of the game, their heads were held high, and both sides had enjoyed a fierce, yet controversial confrontation. The game was surely exciting to watch for any neutral fan in attendance, yet frustrating for those of a red and black persuasion. 15-8; the controversial 7 points gained from the first try the difference.

Next Saturday, Campion face second from bottom Old Brentwoods; another side who they have a history of firery encounters with. 1st XV Coach Paul Larner said after the game “although we were not happy with a number things today, the main thing was that we did not play with our heads up and did not use our advantage of having extra men at times in the game.’ A larger pool of players should be available next week, and the Old Boys will surely be working hard in training to ensure that they learn from the experience, and grow stronger in their London North East 3 campaign.