Manner rather than margin of victory pleases the players

THE GOOCH rests a shoulder up against the wall and dumps his kitbag emblazoned ‘Cooper’ at his feet.

The heel of an Adidas boot protrudes menacingly from one side, like the barrel of a hitman’s rifle. Surprisingly, it isn’t still smoking.

So young and with another five-star display tucked under his belt, Cooper, as is the norm with him, shrugs off the platitudes for his display. He was just lucky the points went over, he deadpans. Sure, like The Beatles were just lucky to make good music.