Gala 27

Glasgow Hawks 43

David Morrison at Netherdale

ANY pre-season air of optimism around Netherdale on Saturday was quickly blown away by a dominant Glasgow Hawks.

The visitors managed to run in no fewer than four tries inside the opening 18 minutes.

Matt Fagerson crashed over for the first on five minutes.

George Horne's conversion and penalty a minute later gave Glasgow a 10 point cushion.

Gregor Hunter did respond with his own three points but it did nothing to slow down the Hawks back line.

Fagerson raced through gaps for his second score.

Kerr Gossman intercepted near half way to sprint home for the third.

And the same player danced through the defence in the 18th minute to gave Glasgow an early try bonus point.

Gala's response eventually arrived on the half hour with Stevie Cairns diving over from a scrum.

But at 31-8 the game was already out of sight.

Erland Oag made sure there was to be no comeback with a further Hawks try just before the interval.

At 38-6 there was little for Gala to play for except pride... and to their credit they did regain some in the second period.

It was a much more confident Gala who appeared after half time.

Craig Robertson managed to race in twice for tries in the space of six minutes with Hunter adding the extras for the second.

Indiscipline in the visitors' ranks was costing them - but on the hour Goerge Horne finished off a great passing move to run in under the posts.

With the lead stretched back out to 23 points it made sure any lingering hopes of a fightback were expelled.

Gala continued to look the stronger team in the closing stages.

They were rewarded for their efforts on 73 minutes as Dean Brooker was driven over to score.

Hunter's touchline conversion narrowed the gap to 43-27.

And it looked as though Kris Mein was to bring the Maroons even closer as he charged for the line only to spill the ball.

While Gala will be hugely disappointed with the opening half hour they can take some encouragement from the second half effort and performance.