Kelso v CQP 29April 2019

The match took place on a lovely day. The Kelso team featured Michael Downer who previously played for CQP whom we understand is Melrose bound next season.

The CQP line up featured two youngsters Christopher Devine and Marcus Goodwin in the front row with Gregg Gilmour hooking.
Kelso opened the scoring with a converted try after six minutes. The game then progressed evenly with neither side really dominating. With thirty five minutes on the clock CQP got on the board with a try when the CQP pack drove over and Michael Robertson got the touchdown. With the kicking tee nowhere to be seen Wayne Burrows was forced to attempt a drop goal conversion which he missed. From a Kelso lineout just inside the CQP half Kelso took their ball and ran through a sleepy CQP defence to score their second try which was converted to give them a 14-5 Lead at the break.

Just after the resumption CQP lost two players to injury firstly Michael Nellaney and then Gregor Davidson who were replaced by Messrs Harman and Hamilton respectively. A few minutes later from a CQP lineout about eighteen metres from the Kelso line the CQP pack drove the Kelso defenders back and Michael Robertson had his second try converted by Wane Burrows. Shortly after this CQP mounted a good attack down the right hand side which stopped courtesy of a forward pass.

CQP then took the lead for the first time with nine minutes of the second half played with a converted try by Graham Williamson. Five minutes later Kelso struck back with their third converted try. With just less than a quarter of play left Jake Graham after a ball adjustment went on a mazy run before passing out to Jonny Campion who went over for CQP's bonus point try. With six minutes left Wayne Burrows converted a penalty in front of the posts and a minute later Michael Robertson completed his try hat-trick. CQP were now on top and the remaining time was played out without the small band of CQP supporters having any need to bite their fingernails.

FT Kelso 21 (0 points) CQP36 (5 points).

This victory was CQP's fifth away win of the season. If our home form had been as good we would have been challenging for a top six finish.

Apparently Tony Nyangweso has announced that this was his last first fifteen performance. Tony who hails from Uganda came to Scotland to study and has remained here. He had been a consistent member of the 1s and only a dodgy hamstring in more recent times has kept him out of first team action. A fierce tackler it was significant that during his last 1st team match he put in a cracking tackle in mid-field. Tony will be missed both by his fellow players and the teams supporters who have greatly enjoyed his on field contributions over many years. He has apparently decided to join the vets in the Shawlands Sharks where he is bound to make a significant impression.