Given that the game was being played on a Friday night and Dumfies were sitting in sixth place safe from relegation but out of contention for a promotion spot it might have been expected that they would have little to motivate them. In the event this proved to be a mile off the mark as throughout the game they produced a fine example of fast enterprising back play. On occasion a little bit more composure would have benefited them but the common view among the CQP support at the end was that they were one of the best teams to have visited Dumbreck this season.

The game opened with Dumfries showing that they were well and truly off the bus and after seven minutes of play they appeared to have scored on the left but the move was judged by the referee to have included a forward pass they were not however to be denied and three minutes later they went into the lead with a successful penalty. Shortly after this they added a further three penalty points to take a 6-0 lead. With only seventeen minutes of play CQP were penalised for failure to release and a further kickable penalty was awarded but this time the opportunity which looked fairly easy was scorned. On the next occasion that Dumfries were awarded a penalty which was only a few minutes later they chose to run it and made strenuous efforts to cross the CQP line but were repelled.  After twenty five minutes Dumfries were awarded another penalty fifteen metres to the left of the posts and elected to kick but were unsuccessful. There was a certain justice in this since because of a hold up in play the Dumfries kicker had managed to position the kick position ten metres further infield a move which the referee failed to spot. The penalty count continued to go heavily against CQP for minor offences but eventually CQP were awarded a kickable penalty which Wayne Burrows stroked over the bar and with half-time approaching John MCCrossan secured the ball from the back of the set piece in front of the Dumfries posts. John firstly went to go right then left before spinning round for a drop goal. to level the score at 6-6. Dumfies sprung back into the attack and just on half-time finally managed to find a way through the CQP defence the scorer did his best to get the ball as near to the centre as he could but the resultant conversion attempt failed hopelessly as the kick never rose more that six feet above the ground.

Half-time CQP 6 Dumfies 11

It was clear that if CQP were to have any

 chance of winning this game there was going to have to be a change in the way they were trying to play.

Early in the second half from a penalty Andy Scott kicked into touch for a throw in from which Cookie knocked on. The resultant Dumfries scrum saw CQP drive Dumfries straight back off the ball and subsequently Wayne Burrows launched the ball high to the right side close to the Dumfries line finding Tam Davidson who dived in to level the score at 11-11. The difficult conversion was missed.

It was clear that CQP were now trying to play more through the forwards where they seemed to have more power than Dumfries.

The next try also fell to CQP and was a real thing of beauty. Michael Sherlock broke through the middle out of defence making about thirty metres before being stopped. CQP won the resultant ruck McCrossan moved the ball left to Burrows who offloaded to McInnes . The line was now moving at speed and McInnes fed Andy Scott who spotted Cookie coming into the line on his left at full pace the well flighted pass to Cookie was duly gathered and he burst over the Dumfries line on the left hand side despite desperate efforts by the Dumfries defence to stop him It might have been hoped that with CQP securing the lead for the first time that Dumfries would recognise that the tide had turned against them but they were having none of it and pushed upfield where they once more managed to breach the CQP defence to gain their second try which they converted to put them into an 18-16 lead.

With the game moving into it's final phase CQP were making every effort to get the lead back egged on by a relatively small but hugely vocal home support. Eventually CQP were awarded a scrum some five metres out from the Dumfries line and duly pushed them back but the official decided that the ball had been held up over the line and reset the scrum which CQP won and this time the ball was spun to the left into the ever alert hands of Tam Davidson who went over close to the corner. There was a short delay before the referee was seen to award the try and for a moment it appeared that there was a problem. It was only later in the clubhouse that it was learned that what had caused the delay related to the actions of the CQP touchjudge who in his excitement at seeing the score had thrown both his arms in the air one of which was of course holding a touch flag. On noting this the referee had asked for an explanation as he did not believe the scorer had gone into touch. When this was confirmed to him the try was awarded the resultant conversion attempt only a couple of metres was missed but it didn't matter as the final whistle was blown. Once again as at Dalziel CQP had got out of jail. Truly our theme song should be the tune from the Great Escape.

Final score CQP 21 Dumfries 18.

This was a hugely entertaining game even if the CQP faithful were complaining later at the bar that their nerves were still jangling. Dumfries are a very good team and it says a great deal for the character of this CQP team that they never give up and fight to the final whistle.Full credit is due to the captain players and our coaching team  

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