Cartha Queens Park v Preston Lodge

The match took place on a showery day with the kick off delayed by fifteen minutes as Preston Lodge had been delayed on their road through to Dumbreck.

The CQP included experienced players Graham Williamson and Peter Hollier in the second row. Both the CQP set piece and the line out benefitted from their inclusion with a very noticeable improvement in the CQP line out in particular.

After one minute of play CQP opened their account after good forward play saw CQP advance towards the PL line and ever reliable Graeme Docherty scored a try which Rorie Watson converted. CQP had the best of it in the first half but it was PL who turned round 12-7 ahead curtesy of two tries just before the break. Prior to this Callum Dickson had left the field injured following a somewhat rash tackle which saw him yellow carded.

With only five minutes on the clock Preston Lodge increased their lead with a successful penalty. With eighteen minutes of the second half played CQP hit back with the CQP pack driving PL back over their line. Fraser Paul got the score but the conversion into the wind was missed and the score moved to15-12 to PL. Immediately after this a fracas took place behind the PL posts which resulted in one PL player being yellow carded and JP Thomson being red carded. Two minutes later saw CQP level the score at fifteen apiece. CQP mounted another good forward take and drive which saw Graham Williamson get the touchdown. Rorie Watson converted the difficult kick into the wind to give CQP a seven point lead. PL hit back four minutes later to level the score at 22-22. Three minutes later saw CQP regain the lead curtesy of a CQP penalty by Rorie Watson. The game now moved into injury time and it must have been at least eight minutes of injury time allowed when with an extra man advantage PL muscled their way over the CQP line for a fourth try which they converted. Full time was blown immediately after this to give PL victory 29-25.

There is little doubt that having to play the last twenty minutes a man short with the last ten minutes of this period leaving PL with a one man advantage directly affected the outcome of this well contested game in which the lead moved frequently from one side to the other. This was a much better performance by CQP especially upfront. Pl are a strong running side. Overall a draw would have been a fair replication of the proceedings on the park.

Next up away to Newton Stewart on the eight October.