Committed display by CQP earns valuable home win over third top Selkirk

Overnight rain meant that the game was played on a heavy pitch. From the start CQP took the game to Selkirk. During the first half CQP played with the wind more or less at their back.

With only three minutes on the clock CQP were awarded a penalty but the kick went to the left of the posts. Seven minutes later saw CQP take a three poin lead when Wayne Burrows popped the penalty over the bar and two minutes later Andy Scott got an opening try for CQP which Wayne converted. The try was scored after some excellent CQP passing with the ball going through at least five sets of hands before Andy got the final touchdown. The try was entirely with the run of play. It was no surprise when CQP went further ahead from a second successful penalty. As the game progressed CQP continued to have the upper hand and Selkirk were finding very difficult to get out of their half. On the half hour mark Selkirk were reduced to fourteen players when their number 7 was sin binned for persistant infringments. CQP chose to take scrum instead of a kick and a very well executed drive saw CQP push over the Selkirk line with Number 8, Michael Robertson getting the touchdown which Wayne converted to give CQP 20 point lead. The half time whistle blew with no change to the score. Throughout the half CQP had attacked at every opportunity and tackled fiercely. The twenty point lead was no more than they deserved.

HT CQP 20 - 0 Selkirk

With the wind now at their back it was to be expected that Selkirk wold come more into the game and in fact it only took them two minutes to register their intent when space opened up for them on the left side and they managed to break through and their number 13 got over. The try was converted. With fifty seven minutes on the clock Andrew McDougall was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on and a minute later Selkirk moved the score to 20-14 when from close range their loose head got over. With just over a quarter of the game left to play it was clear that the next try was going to be of vital importance and a determined CQP pushed into the Selkirk half and Andy Scott got his second try of the day. Selkirk hit back three minutes later when some good decision making saw a gap open in the home defence. This third Selkirk try was converted to reduce the gap in CQP’s favour to four points. CQP were determined to get a result from this game and fought to the end finishing inside the Selkirk twenty two when the ref blew for no side.

On the basis that CQP had more possession and territorial advantage in the first half than Selkirk did in the second CQP deserved this important victory. If CQP can continue to play with the same determination and skill level that they displayed in this game in the remaining league games this season they will deservedly retain their position in National 1.

Elsewhere the seconds kept their spot at the top of their league with victory at Irvine and Shawlands eventually overpowered a well organised Lochaber side