Match Report v Cartha QP

Berwick welcomed Cartha Queens Park to Scremerston on Saturday and the crowd would be entertained with a game that would be full of tries. Earlier in the season Berwick had earned the bonus point win up at Cartha, but would not be taking this for granted with the opponents showing some good form and earning a try bonus point in the earlier game.

With Berwick famously being “slow starters” at home, they came out the blocks immediately and ever reliable captain Jack Webster would convert a penalty in front of the posts upon his return to the pitch. Cartha however would score the first try of the match. With a dominant first half display in the forwards, a drive over scrum would be dotted down by the flanker after what looked like the number 8 fumbled it over the line. This however wouldn’t worry Berwick and the blacks worked their way back up the pitch before number 8 Ali Grieve bundled over to score, this score would release the flood gates. Off a well worked backs move, Aidan Rosie burst through a gaping hole drew his last man and put James Thompson in under the sticks. James Grieve then made a terrific break up the pitch, feeding the ball to Duncan Hardie who miraculously didn’t score, but the ball was quickly passed out to Rory Hindhaugh, back in his familiar 15 shirt, to run in unopposed. Cartha would get a try back through there driving maul which had been a thorn in the Berwick side for the entire half. But from the kick off Ryan Wilson stripped the ball from his opposing man, Duncan Hardie scythed through the defensive line and fed Mason Emery to score and secure the bonus point. Half time score Berwick 31 – Cartha 10.

It didn’t take long in the second half for Berwick to grab another try. Aidan Rosie coming off his wing managed to fend off his opposing man and slide in. James Thompson bagged his second of the day after a clever kick down the centre of the pitch from Webster, Thompson used his pace to get first to the ball and dive on it to score. The try of the game however was scored by the gentle giant Stu Farnaby. After some tremendous link play from the backs, Stu found himself on the wing unopposed to dive over in the corner. A true team try with the big second row just doing the easy job at the end of finishing it off. Next on the try sheet and finally getting his first of the season was winger Jack Dalrymple. Once again some great play from the backs with Jack being on hand to receive the final pass and score. Mason Emery could well have had his second of the day as he saw the headlines in front of the grandstand and a clear run to the line, however on his way somehow managed to drop the ball. Cartha went down to 13 men within the final 5 minutes of the game with two yellows being received. One for an in air tackle on Cammy Rogerson which the winger may be lucky to only come away with a yellow after the replacement 9 landed on his head. The second was for a deliberate knock on in which Liam Robson had a clear run to the line, however this was only deemed to be a yellow and not a penalty try by the referee. Thankfully for Berwick the game had been sealed by now even with one more Cartha try, Rosie would score on the final play following a James Thompson cross kick and the lack of Cartha players allowed Rosie to waltz in.

A tremendous and commanding display from the Berwick outfit proving that they more than belong in National 2, however there is still a long way to go in the season and its now anyone’s guess who could be relegated. Final score Berwick 62 – Cartha 17.