Gala 22

Hawick 21

Atholl Innes at Netherdale

AFTER an engrossing and nail-biting contest at Netherdale on Saturday, Gala emerged as the happier of the two Borders adversaries.

There is no substitute for local Borders derbies, although the crowd was low compared with the days of old, and Gala just made it over the finishing line after taking an early commanding lead.

Chris Dalgleish, the Gala coach, summed it up in one succinct sentence. “It is always good to win over our rivals and will give the boys confidence.”

It was natural that Dalgleish wore a bigger smile than Hawick coach Nikki Walker.

“It was a very important win for us,” he said.

“We scored some good tries and I do not think that there are any better than our two wingers in the Premiership.

“If we can play with some more composure at times, we can pick up a few more results. Our scrum was better than previously. But Hawick are not a bad side.

“We scored our two tries early, and showed that we have to keep to that level. Conceding a try just before half-time hurt us a wee bit and Hawick came out strongly.”

Hawick captain Bruce McNeil added: “We let ourselves down.”

The home side led 14-0 early in the game, but Hawick’s resolute play kept the result in doubt until referee Mike Adamson’s final whistle.

Astute kicking by Gregor Hunter kept Hawick on the back foot before powerful play from Harry Borthwick released Craig Robertson, who raced under the posts and Hunter converted.

Ali Weir pulled a penalty wide and it proved costly as Gala put the ball through several hands for Paul Hendry to touch down and Hunter kicked the conversion.

Weir cut the deficit with two penalties before Wesley Hamilton went over in the left-hand corner. Weir converted and Hawick went in at the break only one behind.

Weir kicked his third penalty to put Hawick ahead for the first time while Gala, with Ross Combe in the sin-bin, were unable to get out of their own half.

Hunter put Gala back in front with his first penalty, but Hawick continued to more aggressive and it was no surprise when a break by Gary Johnstone set up a try for Michael Robertson. Neil Renwick pulled the conversion wide.

With seven minutes remaining, Combe scored in the right-hand corner after they had refused a penalty at goal with time running out.

Gala : G. Speirs; R. Combe, L. Berg, P.Hendry, C. Robertson; G. Hunter, C. Adams; C. Keen, M. Carryer, D. Brooker, C. Weir, R. Louw, G. Adams, S. Cairns, H. Borthwick. Replacements: C. Reynolds, R. Tod, C. Pate, A. Emond, C. Dods.

Hawick: A. Weir; N. McColm, G. Johnstone, K. Brunton, W. Hamilton; L. Armstrong, B. Campbell; M. Landels, F. Renwick, C. Mackintosh, M. Robertson, B. McNeil, R. Gibson, S. Graham, K. Davies. Replacements: T. Skeet, D. Harlen, D. Redpath, A. Horne, N. Renwick.