Border Telegraph | Sport | Clubs play down rivalry after bitter encounter

Friday, 5th December, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 16th November, 2005 10:59

Clubs play down rivalry after bitter encounter

By Border Telegraph Sport

GALA and Cartha Queens Park rugby clubs have moved to defuse a row over unsportsmanlike behaviour following their explosive clash at Netherdale two weeks ago.

The fierce game saw a spate of yellow cards and a sending off for Cartha’s Gary Grant, and provoked an angry response from Gala fans.

One supporter wrote to the Border Telegraph criticising the Cartha fans and players for attitudes that: “should have no part on or near a rugby pitch.”

The letter accused “beer-swilling” Cartha supporters of cheering as Gala lock Malcolm Horsburgh was sin-binned.

It also hit out at Grant for his reaction to his red card, saying that he: “spent the last few minutes of the match gesturing to the Cartha supporters from the touchline.”

The letter continues: “When the opposition have won fair and square, then that has been appreciated, however reluctantly.

“What we are not used to is a side and support so partisan that they are completely oblivious of the rules of rugby union.”

Cartha president, Brian Gervase, was quick to play down the situation.

He said: “I didn’t witness these incidents, but there was some ill feeling on the day, both on and off the park.

“I wouldn’t lay blame on one side. I think there was an element of blame on both sides. It is unfortunate.

“It is not something that we would encourage, but I think it has been blown up out of proportion by ill-advised comments.

“It is an unfortunate incident that both clubs should do their best to forget about.”

Gala president, Richard Chatfield, was also keen to draw a line under the incident.

He said: “At the end of the day, it was in the heat of the game. There was a bit of a lack of control from the officials, but things got handled.

“It is always a difficult one when you have teams like Cartha that have never played Gala before and want to do well. Unfortunately that is the way sport seems to be going now.

“It is history as far as we are concerned. They are looking forward to us going up there, and they said they would make us very welcome.

“They came to win, and on the day they were the better side. One or two attitudes from people does spoil things a bit, but it is all forgotten about after the match.”

Gala travel to Glasgow to face Cartha Queens Park for the return BT Premiership Division Two clash on March 25 next year.

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