SHE has speed, she has a fend and on Saturday at University Oval, Jacinta Cooper used both those assets to run in a hat-trick.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Cooper's treble was one of the highlights as CSU posted a 60-10 win over Wellington, the students hitting back in style after back-to-back defeats.
While Wellington certainly provided CSU with a challenge in the middle of the paddock - their forward pack hit hard and counter-rucked well - when the students spread the ball wide to the likes of Cooper on the wing they cashed in.
Coach Dom Huggett was pleased with the display against an opponent which had him a more than a little wary before kick-off.
"They've beaten Narromine 7-0, and when they come out to play, they come out to play. So we needed to be on today," he said.
"We knew it wasn't going to be an easy game, we were coming off two losses and you never know with the confidence after that what was going to happen.
"But we trained well, we had to switch it up to Thursday and Friday. But we know what we are doing, we know what's working, we just have to refine it under pressure and we have to work on our fitness.
"If we refine that and work hard at training, build our skills while we are doing fitness, then I think we've got a good chance."
READ MORE: CSU farewell Gann with a Ferguson Cup win
READ MORE: Concreter Liva helps cement a CSU win
Want a discounted subscription to follow Bathurst sport this winter? Click here
It was Cooper who opened scoring in the fifth minute as CSU made a strong start to the match.
They pilfered after Wellington had received from the kick-off, attacked down the left wing as Ash Bridge came within inches of the line, cleaned out quickly and spread the ball right to Cooper.
Cooper had her second try soon after, that speed and fend serving her well as she streaked away down the right flank following an uncontested mid-field scrum.
That helped CSU to a 12-0 lead after the first quarter - an advantage which soon grew.
Wellington sent their kick-off to start the second period out on the full to see CSU awarded an attacking scrum. From there the hosts went on to score via Riley Smith.
Smith had her second try a tick over a minute later as she found space down the left wing, and with Jess Gann's conversion it was 26-0.
Wellington showed its fight as - after CSU was twice penalised for off-side play - Brit Naden produced a nice right-foot step to cross.
Another of Wellington's league talents - 16-year-old Kiara Sullivan - managed to pick up a second try in the third quarter, but CSU was well in control.
Cooper had her hat-trick not long after play resumed in the second half, Laura Belfanti charged over following a penalty deep in Wellington territory and Brydie Comiskey produced a 40-metre effort to make it 41-10 with a quarter to go.
Bridge snagged a double in that final quarter, while Meg Sprague also crossed in the 10-try performance.
