CQP vs Melrose

CQP v Melrose Sat 9th Nov. 2019.

Superb display of attacking rugby sees CQP score eight tries against second top of the league Melrose

The match took place on a dry but bitterly cold day. Ewen Campbell was unavailable and was replaced in the back division by Lachie Stout. Melrose was formed in 1870 this was the first occasion on which the two clubs had met at first XV level in a league game. Melrose came into the game having won seven of the eight games they had played.

For the first ten minutes Melrose dominated but after thirteen minutes CQP went into the lead courtesy of a converted try by Ryan Howie and with a quarter of the game played CQP scored a second by Big G. Again Wayne Burrows converted. CQP continued to attack and gathered the ball on the left. Geebs fed to Sam Harrison who belted down the wing to add try three in the corner. This saw Wayne successfully execute the difficult conversion. Both Wayne’s parents had travelled over from Ireland for the game. It seems that whehever they are present Wayne makes sure he has his boots on the right feet. On this occasion by the end of the game he had converted seven out of eight tries. The CQP touchline support who only two weeks before had been deeply frustrated at the way CQP were playing were now shaking their heads in disbelief at the huge change they were witnessing. Before the break Liam Howieson who had been having a good game scored try number four to secure CQP’s bonus point.

HT CQP 28 Melrose 0

CQP have witnessed several second half collapses this season but on this occasion they did not need to fret despite the fact that Melrose scored very early after the restart after Sam Harrison had been yellow carded near the CQP line. From the resultant penalty Melrose got over in the corner for an unconverted try. CQP continued to play attacking rugby and Calum Dickson scored twice in a period of three minutes. The first try followed some fine passing down the right. The second came when CQP burst out of defence. Try number seven arrived when CQP exerted their authority in the set piece and drove Melrose over their line with substitute scrum half Lachie Stout getting the touchdowns. In the final play CQP rounded things off breaking through the fifty point barrier with a try by Frenchman Thibault Pin.

FT CQP 54 MELROSE 5.

As a consequence of results elsewhere CQP have now moved up to fifth place in the league. Next week sees CQP visit Stirling followed by a home game against league leaders BIGGAR.

This performance by CQP must go down as one of their best ever. The forwards have been operating as a very successful and cohesive unit for some weeks and maintained that level in this game but in this game the backs really stepped up. It would be invidious to pick out any single player for special praise as on the day the entire CQP squad put in a performance of which they can feel proud.