The weather eased somewhat while the game was being played which was a relief following the horrible downpour which had been present earlier in the day. Ardrossan have a very well drained pitch which is never really in any danger of being flooded.

In the matching fixture last year as the Ardrossan programme reminded us Ardrossan had snatched a three point victory at the death when they were awarded a penalty on the halfway line. This time there was to be no such drama.

Once again the CQP team which took the field showed several changes from that published in the home programme. McKinnon was missing through injury as was Scott McInnes. Ian Cook was once again missing and Robert Harvey was a very late arrival and therefore started on the bench as he had had to travel down from Brechin where he had been working in the morning. Without McKinnon Cook and Harvey the CQP pack was much lighter than normal which lead to the unusual sight of a CQP pack being driven back in the set piece.

Ardrossan were in the ascendancy from the start and with only eight minutes played opened the scoring with a try by right winger McKechnie which was unconverted.

Only two minutes later Wayne Burrows reduced the deficit to two points when he slotted a penalty for CQP.

Some five minutes later saw Tony Nyangweso make an excellent driving run showing great leg strength as he drove forward some twenty metres. and only two minutes later Andy Noble once again got his name on the score sheet when he scuttled forward evading various attempts to stop him for CQP's first try to put CQP into an eight point to five lead.

CQP were now playing well and with half an hour gone Wayne Burrows added another successful penalty to move the score to 11-5. Ardrossan were not about to lie down and with forty minutes on the clock scored again when number 8 Nimmo got over the CQP line.for an unconverted try and only two minutes later they went back into the lead with a penalty conversion by full back Hunter to move the score to 13-11 to Ardrossan at half-time.

When the second half started Robert Harvey replaced Andy Lamont at prop.

After ten minutes of play with Ardrossan inside CQP's twenty-two the ball was sent back to stand off wilson who duly slotted a well taken drop goal to give Ardrossan a five point lead. Soon after this subs Dickson and Shepherd came on.

Following the withdrawal of Tony Nyangweso through injury Tam Davidson took the field which lead to Andy Scott moving from number nine into the centre

With the game fairly evenly balanced CQP were awarded a penalty which Andy Scott slotted into touch close to the Ardrossan line. CQP then did what they do best and took their own lineout ball and drove over the Ardrossan line where Michael Nellaney got the touchdown. The conversion was missed to leave the score level at 16 a piece.

Thirty-five minutes of play saw Rob May playing at fullback for the firsts for the first time this season bang in an excellent up and under which fell to one of Ardrossan's burlier forwards about a metre inside touch. May following up immediately battered the Ardossan player into touch.

There was only a limited amount of injury time to be played as the only real interruption had been when Robert Harvey had required attention.

With CQP engaged in a kicking game looking to gain territorial advantage there was only a limited opportunity for the CQP backs to shine Ardrossan for their part chose to play a running game despite the weather which gave their backs more chance to shine with their tall number 13 catching the eye and causing CQP problems. The CQP backs however defended very well throughout the match. Up front Williamson and Gillies put in their usual good shift with Hollier also contributing some good running but the Ardrossan forwards were generally more dynamic in the loose.

While CQP may have travelled to Ardrossan hoping for a win, on the day a draw was probably a fair result.

The referee for the day was Alex Pratt. 

Full-time Ardrossan 16 Cartha Queen's Park 16  

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