The weather for this game was poor. There had been sufficient rain overnight to ensure the need for a pitch inspection but the pitch was declared playable and fortunately the rain stayed away throughout the period of play. There was a strong gusty wind blowing from corner to corner and CQP had this at their backs in the first half. CQP kicked off and a few minutes in we’re awarded a penalty which Wayne Burrows converted to give them an early three point lead which they lost when Stirling scored a try to the right of the posts which they converted to give them a 7-3 lead which was reduced to one point when Wayne Burrows converted another penalty successfully.

HT CQP 6 Stirling County 7

A feature of the first half had been a failure on the CQP side to find their own man in the line out. Stirling on the other hand had consistently found their jumper in the line out. In the set piece Stirling with what appeared to be a weight advantage had been disrupting the CQP set piece. The CQP touchline support was therefore understandably apprehensive that with wind advantage Stirling would dominate proceedings in the second half. With only five minutes played following a penalty to CQP inside the Stirling twenty two from close range Marcus Goodwin scored close to the left corner flag. The wind was blowing directly into Wayne Burrows face and although he kept the conversion attempt low it was unsuccessful and CQP had to be content with an eleven seven lead. Stirling hit back and scored their second try from close range which was successfully converted to push them into a three point lead. Prior to this Graham Williamson had gone off injured courtesy of a knock to his knee. After Stirling took the lead David McCartney went off and Wayne Burrows took over the stand off duties with Adamson coming into the back line from the bench. With twenty three minutes of the second half played CQP drew level at fourteen apiece and shortly after this Stirling went down to fourteen players when their right-wing was red carded for throwing a punch. With the game reaching it’s conclusion CQP we’re awarded a penalty to the left of the Stirling posts which meant that the kick would be going directly into the strong gusting wind. The ball fell over after it had been placed and had to be fingertip held by one of the CQP players. This difficult kick was converted to the delight of the CQP support but there were still a few minutes left to play. Subsequently Stirling were awarded a penalty in their own half and the kick was duly hoofed into touch about fifteen metres from the CQP line. The resultant Stirling throw in went long And after a few rucks the ball was sent spiralling over the dead ball line by CQP and the ref signalled no side, giving CQP a much needed victory which became even sweeter when the news came in that Watson’s ,Boroughmuir and Dundee had all lost. This means that CQP have now moved to fourth bottom.

FT CQP 17 Stirling County 14

CQP played much better in the second half of this game and demonstrated a dogged determination not to be beaten. Next up Dundee away next Saturday with a kick off time of 11am which will probably require a departure time from Dumbreck before 8am.