Watsonians vs CQP

Watsonians v Cartha Queen’s Park 1st February 2020.

The game took place in dry conditions with only a very light wind.

The Watson’s programme made it clear that they were unbeaten at home so far this season. CQP arrived knowing they had won their last three games and they had beaten Watsonians earlier in the season at Dumbreck. Graham Williamson was still out through injury and Fraser Paul was also out. Grahame Docherty was missing due to work commitments but the selected squad suggested CQP would be able to put up a good show. The opening five or six minutes were all Watson’s but after that CQP came into it and with fourteen minutes on the clock CQP took the lead when a through ball was kicked into the Watson’s in goal area and Thibault Pin got to it just ahead of two Watson’s defenders to score near the corner. The try went unconverted but CQP went further ahead courtesy of a Wayne Burrows penalty. With half an hour played Watson’s reduced the leeway with a penalty and just before the break levelled the score at 8 apiece with an unconverted try.

Only four minutes into the second halfCQP retook the lead when Sam Harrison intercepted a Watson’s pass on the halfway line and raced through the centre at full speed resisting Watson’s desperate attempts to stop him. The score was between the posts giving Wayne an easy conversion and CQP a 15-8 lead which was extended to 20-8 when Ryan Howie got over for an unconverted try. Wayne Burrows spent ten minutes in the bin when he broke down a promising Watson’s backs movement with a deliberate knock on. While he was off Watson's scored their second try and four minutes later added their third to move the score to 20-18 in CQP’s favour. With three minutes left Josh McPhail gathered the ball inside the Watson’s half and managed to elude the defenders to secure CQP’s bonus try. The attempted conversion missed narrowly. With time almost up Watson’s saved their unbeaten home record when they scored a converted try to level the score at 25 all.

A draw was possibly a fair result and as a consequence of the bonus point CQP took three points home with them to put them on 42 points. As a result of Stirling’s unexpected victory at Gala they have now moved down to eighth place but there is very little in it from fifth place to eighth. CQP now have six games left, three at home and three away.

Next up Ayr away on the 15th February.