CQP OPEN 2018 WITH CONVINCING SIX TRY VICTORY AT INVERLEITH

This opening match in 2018 took place in dry but bitterly cold conditions with a strong breeze blowing from one end of the park to the other.

With CQP sitting in tenth place and Stew Mel in eleventh it was clear that both teams would be fully aware of how important a victory would be In the reverse fixture at Dumbreck CQP had sneaked home by two points courtesy of a last minute score.

CQP started with the wind at their backs and Anthony Nyangweso made an early show with a thirty meter run down the left wing.

With ten minutes played Andrew McDougall opened the scoring with a fine dart round the corner from a ruck. Wayne Burrows converted to give CQP an encouraging seven point lead.

Stew Mel put the kick off straight into touch. Five minutes later CQP added a second try when Wayne Burrows found a gap in the home defence but his conversion attempt missed and CQP now held a twelve point lead which they increased to fifteen with a successful penalty kick by Wayne.

The CQP first quarter lead was fully justified as they clearly had the upper hand in this period.

With thirty minutes played Stew Mel got on the score sheet with a try close to the right corner by winger Ferguson. The difficult conversion was missed and the score now moved to 15-5. This try seemed to galvanise the hosts who then had their best period in the game. Very shortly after this the same player got a second try touching down in almost the same spot. Again the conversion failed but Stew Mel were now only five points adrift. This gap increased to eight points when Wayne Burrows kicked a second successful penalty.

Half Time Stew Mel 10 Cartha Queens Park 18

With CQP now having to play into the wind a Stew Mel fight back was clearly a possibility and this danger looked real when they scored their third try from close range courtesy of their captain number two Mitchell, who had stayed close to the touchline. It was clear from the vantage point of the stand that a try would be scored if Stew Mel could get the ball out to the wing. However once more the Stew Mel kicker failed to get the ball over the bar and the score moved to 18-15.

CQP upped their game and scored a third try when Wayne Burrows fed a well timed pass inside to Andy Scott who took the ball at full pace for a try which Wayne had no difficulty in converting.

Stew Mel's chances of victory were reduced when they went down to four teen players when their number four was binned for a high tackle on Scott McInnes who had made a fine run through the centre.

Shortly after this CQP got their bonus point try when some intelligent work by Anthony Nyangweso saw him manage to keep the ball in play and it was then transferred inside and David Irvine got over from the ruck. This try was again converted and CQP started to look as though they were heading for victory with the score now standing at 32-15. CQP's prospects were further improved when immediately after Stew Mel's number four resumed they lost their full back to the bin for foul play.

Score number five for CQP was from a nice break by Jonny Campion who had come on at scrum half. Again Wayne converted to give CQP a comfortable twenty four point lead which they increased to thirtyone points when Matt Gray added try number six just before the finish

Full time STEWART MELVILLE 15 ( 0 points ) CARTHA QUEEN's PARK 46 ( 5 points ).

Playing with virtually a full strength squad CQP thoroughly deserved this five point victory. With Musselburgh going down heavily away to Edinburgh Accies CQP have now moved up a place to ninth.
Next up will be Gala at home next Saturday. Gala started the season very strongly but then then took a dip although they won their latest game at home against Falkirk. Clearly with home advantage CQP must have a definite chance of reversing the away defeat at Gala.

CQP did well at Inverleith to keep the game flowing down through the middle of the park. This was achieved by resolute and effective tackling. The whole team played their part in this very welcome victory with the pack becoming more and more dominant as the game moved on..

Elsewhere on the day CQP 2nd XV kept their promotion prospects in place with a bonus point victory at Dumfries. This game was a potential banana skin as Dumfries were sitting in fourth place. Shawlands lost out to West 3 division leaders Glasgow Uni Medics and Shawlands Sharks lead on the field by Andy Moran lost to a very experiences Hillhead/Jordanhill Vets XV