Musselburgh outmuscle CQP to win game by ten points

Hi Grahame Cartha QP v Musselburgh Sat13th Oct2018.

Streetwise Musselburgh outmuscle CQP to win game by ten points.

With widespread flooding in many places in the West of Scotland this was a real test for the recent drainage work carried out at Dumbreck. It is very pleasing to be able to report that the pitches stood up very well to the heavy rain which took place both before and during this game. From early in the game it became clear that the Musselburgh pack had the upper hand in the tight. It was no great surprise therefore when Musselburgh took an early three point lead with fifteen minutes played. Only three minutes later however very high tackle on Jonny Campion saw him about fifteen metres short of the Musselburgh line. This resulted in a yellow card for the Musselburgh offender and a successful
penalty conversion for Wayne Burrows. A minute later saw CQP score an excellent try going down the right side. Superb passing saw the ball passing through about six pairs of hands before Gregor Davidson got the touchdown. Wayne converted and the score moved to 10-3 in CQP's favour with twenty one minutes played. The game then took an unfortunate turn six minutes later when Milan was yellow carded as a consequence of the Musselburgh attackers own momentum when the low tackle saw him come down to the ground with his feet above his body. Musselburgh opted to put the penalty into touch, gathered their own line out ball and smuggled over the CQP line for a converted try with twenty eight minutes played. With thirty six minutes played Musselburgh added another converted try and just before the break increased their lead to 24-10 with another converted try.

HT CQP 10 Musselburgh 24.

Immediately after the resumption CQP were awarded a penalty in front of the posts which Wayne converted. Three minutes later Musselburgh restored their lead to fourteen points with a successful penalty followed by a second try for CQP courtesy of Jonny Campion with the try converted the score moved to 27-20 to the visitors. After considerable pressure on the CQP line Musselburgh pushed the score up to 34-20 before they added a penalty to make it 37-20 with sixty-four minutes played. Three minutes later with CQP pressing hard on the visitors line CQP were awarded a penalty and some quick thinking by Peter Hollier saw him pick up and take the ball short before darting over for CQP's third try. From then until the end CQP tried hard to secure a fourth try but despite a couple of opportunities they couldn't get it with the match ending with a 37-27 victory to Musselburgh.

CQP did not play badly in this game and most of the mistakes which had been present in the previous home game v. Dundee had been eliminated. Big G has to be singled out as CQP's best ball carrier. He worked tirelessly throughout running with real purpose. Changes made to the CQP pack at the beginning of the second half seemed to help. While Musselburgh still had the upper hand upfront there was a lot less in it. It is disappointing that this game resulted in another defeat but the wet conditions undoubtedly suited Musselburgh with their forward advantage. Elsewhere the seconds should have had a home match v Musselburgh. It is extremely disappointing to have to record that for the second time this season the game did not go ahead because Musselburgh could not apparently put out a team. There is something fundamentally wrong with Scottish club rugby if teams playing in the second highest reserve league in Scotland cannot field teams. Let's hope the two's don't have any further fixtures cancelled because other teams in our league cannot put out a team.

On now to newly promoted Kirkcaldy. As they have only won one match so far we must have a decent chance of a win. Our injury list is shrinking so fingers crossed.