Cartha QP's training schedule had been affected by the closure on Thursday of Dumbreck Road due to the Papal visit to Bellahouston Park. As a consequece Thursday training had been switched to the Friday night. The session had however been abreviated because of the game the following day.

The match was played in fine weather with a fairly strong wind blowing towards the clubhouse end and CQP had the advantage of this in the first half.

On the team front Adam Stewart had failed a fitness test on the Saturday moring and Scott McInnes's eye infection had got considerably worse since the previous Saturday resulting in a palsy which we hope will clear quickly although present indications are that he may be out for some time. Scott played very well in the opening two league matches and will be missed. On a more positive note Andy Lamont had been declared fit to play and resumed at prop.

Recent games between CQP and Morgan have been very tight and last seasopn while CQP had won both encounters Morgan had picked up two losing bonus points. Prior to this match each team had won two and lost one and news from the Morgan front was that they had only been able to field a very weak team at Dalziel in losing there whereas they were more or less at full strength for today's meet.

Morgan were first on the scoreboard from a penalty after only three minutes and followed this up four minutes later when they scored a good try down the right wing which was duly converted to give them a ten point lead.

CQP hit back however after only another four minutes of play when they were awarded a scrum five metres out from the Morgan line and duly pushed the visitors pack back over their own line for Ross Gillies to get the touchdown near to the corner. Ian Chisholm then slotted the difficult conversion to reduce the leeway to 10-7.

With both teams looking fairly well matched the game duly progressed until CQP gained a further penalty after 27 minutes of play which again Chis struck successfully to level the score and five minutes later Morgan were penalised for pulling the scrum down and again the resultant penalty was dispatched safely over the bar by Chis.to put CQP into the lead for the first time.

With only two minutes of regulation time left on the clock Alan Howie was tackled in the air and recieved an injury which seemed more serious at the time than later diagnosed by the club doctor. Alan retired and was replaced by Michael Gallacher who was making his CQP debut.

With just under two minutes of injury time played CQP increased their lead to 16-10 with another successful penalty.

Halftime CQP 16   Morgan FP 10

With the wind now at their backs it wasn't long before Morgan forced their way back into the game reducing the CQP lead to three points after another penalty but CQP pushed back upfield and with thirteen minutes played once more crossed the Morgan line via a pushover with the score again being awarded to Ross Gillies.This time however the difficult conversion was missed to leave the score at 21-13. Within five minutes CQP were penalised for a late tackle and were once again punished to reduce the score to 21-16. Two minutes later saw the referee issuing a warning. The loss of a player at this stage would obviously have created a major problem for CQP and it was clear that they would have to be as disciplined as possible.

With seventeen minutes of regulation time left CQP were penalised for failure to release but the penalty which looked straight forward was pulled to the left of the posts. The let off was temporary and very shortly after the miss the Morgan kicker redeemed himself when he knocked over another penalty.

The game at 21-19 now stood on a knife edge but CQP and in particular their pack were not to be denied and with regulation time expired gained some respite with another successful penalty by Chis and from then till the end CQP upped the pressure keeping Morgan pinned close to their own line until the referee blew for no side with a final score of 24-19 in CQP's favour.

One interesting point to emerge after this game is that in all four games played to date the team which has secured the first points has lost.

Once again it was largely down to the forwards that CQP took the points as they outplayed Morgan in both the set piece and the lineout. The backs did however play their full part defensively.

Looking ahead CQP now travel to league leaders Whitecraigs next saturday. With home advantage and unbeaten Whitecraigs will surely start as favourites but it would be a mistake to disregard the commitment being displayed by this CQP squad and following their stumble at Haddington where they only managed a 17-17 draw it remains to be seen whether Craigs self confidence might have suffered a knock.

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