Dunfermline kicked off but the ball went straight into touch for a set scrum. Within five minutes Cartha showed their intent with a score on the left by Johnny Manning. The move was started by Ian Cook and finished by Manning who took it on before grubber kicking it into the in goal area where he reached it before any of the Dunfie defenders.
From the kick off Dunfie propelled the ball to five metres from the CQP line and just after this some poor tackling by Cartha’s defence allowed the home side to open their account with a try scored by full back Scott Swankie following good lead up work in the loose. The try went unconverted.
The Cartha kick off was dropped by the defending Dunfie receiver and the ball reached Tony Nyangweso who was bundled into touch a few metres short of the Dunfie line on the left. Play moved on and Cartha were awarded a scrum. The ball went back to Cook who fed out to Andy Crozier for a touch down in the left corner. The conversion by Andi Black was successful.
With eighteen minutes on the clock Dunfie were awarded a penalty inside the Cartha half which was easily converted by Gregor McNeish to narrow the gap.
Cartha went back on the attack and Cook made a good blind side break from the back of the ruck and the ball reached Wayne Burrows who went over for try number three on the left side with twenty two minutes played. The conversion was missed.
Dunfermline appeared to be tuning in to the pace of the game showing good continuity but it was the visitors who were to increase their lead. After thirty two minutes of play McNeish was harshly sin binned for kicking the ball out of a ruck and two minutes later CQP secured their try bonus after a short penalty was fed out to Cook who ran round and scored on the left. Andi Black converted. Cartha continued to press and a fine kick down the line by Black saw Andy Crozier gather the ball after the visitors had been awarded a penalty, swing round the Dunfie defenders to score Cartha's fifth try which was converted by Wayne Burrows who replaced Black as kicker .
HT Dunfermline 8 CARTHA QUEEN'S PARK 31
On the resumption Dunfermline started brightly with good interpassing between forwards and backs. Swankie made a driving run on the left to set up a ruck from which the ball was moved swiftly to Connor Simpkins to cross on the right. The score went unconverted.
Shortly after this Swankie again demonstrated his pace and ability to spot the gap beating about six Cartha players in the process before the move broke down leading to a Tom Hine interception. Hine raced to the posts managing to stay ahead of the Dunfie pursuers to score under the posts giving Burrows an easy conversion.
With time running out the Dunfie scrum half Rhys Davies was sin binned for failing to roll away from a ruck. In the final move of the game Nicol Smylie was able to penetrate the home defence and score a try behind the posts which Burrows easily converted to move the score to 45-13.
The Dunfermline forwards struggled to impose themselves on a larger Cartha pack but the team added to the afternoon's entertainment by playing some good passing rugby and could not be faulted for their efforts.
Having now played the top three sides in the league Dunfermline will hope to improve their luck this Saturday with a home game against West of Scotland. KO 3.00pm at McKane Park.