Dunfermline went into this game having lost all eight of their opening games whereas CQP went in following a comprehensive home victory over Howe of Fife. On paper CQP had to be favourites and with only two changes from the previous weeks line up,  Miller in for unavailable Dickson and Howie in for Stewart, expectation was high.that CQP would achieve their second away win of the season.

Once again CQP found themselves at a height disadvantage in the line out and again had problems connecting with their own man while Dunfermline were completely secure on their own ball. In the setpiece CQP had the better of it but Dunfermline's mauling style all to often seemed to frustrate CQP into conceding penalties

When CQP tried to play running rugby to often the move faltered due to a handling error.

The game was played in dry conditions with a brisk wind favouring Dunfermline in the first half. As is the way of these things the wind did not seem as strong in the second half.

CQP opened brightly and for the first twenty minutes Dunfermline saw little of the ball. CQP opened their account in two minutes with a successful penalty by Wayne Burrows. With a quarter of the match played CQP increased their lead when a Scott McInnes feed out to Alan Howie on the left wing saw Alan touchdown. With the conversion missed the score then stood at 8-0 to CQP but this seemed to motivate Dunfermline and they hit back with a try of their own which was converted.

With half-time approaching the game suddenly swung dramatically in Dunfermline's favour when they scored two tries within two minutes. one of which was converted to put the home team into a 19-8 lead. All three Dunfermline tries were scored from close in with Dunfermline using their height and weight to bullock their way over the CQP line. Just before half-time CQP reduced the leeway to eight points with a Burrows penalty.

Half-time Dunfermline 19 Cartha QP 11

With the wind now behind them the hope was that CQP would be able to overtake Dunfermline but Dunfermline were hungry for a first victory and tightened up the game even more making it difficult for CQP to get enough possession to threaten their line. and it was Dunfermlinre who scored next with a penalty with five minutes played. Three minutes later CQP reduced the deficit to eight points with another successful Burrows penalty.

When they could get their hands on the ball CQP tried to open the game out but handling errors and penalties conceded for things like failure to release denied them any further points until with thirty minutes played Burrows slotted another penalty  and with time running out John McCrossan scored a good individual try when he got over in the left corner having showed the ball to a number of home defenders leading them to believe that he was about tp pass. By this time the sun was sitting low in the sky and it was clearly going to be a very tricky conversion kick indeed. It says a lot for Wayne that he slotted the ball cleanly over the posts to put CQP into the lead.  

Dunfermline were not however to be denied and forced their way upfield and the referee indicated he had spotted a CQP infringement but played a very long advantage. When the attack broke down he brought the ball back for the penalty which was easily convertible and shortly after that the final whistle blew to the delight of the home support.

Final Score Dunfermline 25 Cartha QP 24.

It is unlikely that Dunfermline will change their style of play much and we will therefore have to ensure that we develop an effective strategy to counteract their mauling style and possibly even more importantly ensure that our line out throw in is good enough to make our own ball secure.

On a happier note it is great to report that our twos who like Dunfermline ones were winless before last Saturday broke their duck with a 31-10 victory away to GHA.      

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