CQP Vs GHA - match report

CQP v GHA Friday night 16Nov 2018

This match was played in dry conditions in front of easily our biggest crowd of the season. The match doubled up as the second leg of the Billy Barnes cup.

CQP dominated the first quarter of this game both in territory and possession but only had one penalty conversion to show for it. The basic reason for this was a failure to penetrate the GHA defence. At the end of this period GHA were given a warning by the ref for persistent infringement CQP had taken a three nil lead after twelve minutes courtesy of a successful penalty conversion by Gregor Davidson. With twenty four minutes on the clock GHA took the lead with a converted try. Only a few minutes later Gregor Davidson put in an excellent touchline kick which landed about five metres short of the corner but GHA were able to escape from the line out and three minutes before time saw CQP pressed into their five metre zone and Fraser Paul saw himself yellow carded. A second try to GHA followed soon after which was converted leaving the halftime score as 14-3 to GHA.

GHA dominated the second half and added four more tries with CQP failing to add any points to their tally. When GHA were within range of securing another try their scorer came onto the ball at pace creating a charge to the line that CQP found difficult to stop. In the forwards they were very quick to add player support to their ball carrier a tactic they had also employed in the Braidholm game. The final outcome of the GHA second half dominance was the addition of four more tries leading to a final score of thirty eight three.

There is no doubt that the better team won this game although CQP should have been able to get more from their dominance in the first quarter than three points. To put matters in context however it is necessary to record that CQP had no fewer than six first regulars missing.

Next up Highland in the second round of the National League Cup. Highland are currently sitting in second place in National Division Two and given their victory over CQP in a pre-season friendly in Inverness will no doubt arrive in Glasgow believing that this is a game they should win. Supporters should note that the kick off time for the Highland game is 12.30pm