Gala 5

Melrose 5

Atholl Innes at Netherdale

GALA would surely have swapped a Premiership win over their local rivals for retaining the Waverley Cup on Monday at Netherdale.

The 5-5 draw, on a bitterly cold afternoon of a gale-force wind and driving sleet showers, was only little compensation as the Braw Lads battle for survival in the top rung of Scottish rugby after the New Year.

It was a sterling performance against the odds with both sides fielding a mixture of experienced and young teams in a tense Boxing Day match that saw 13 minutes of injury time played by referee Steven Turnbull.

Supporters began to wonder where the ‘extra’ time had come from.

Maybe we were all hoping for an outright victory.

The match could have gone either way, and as Gala had won the cup in four of the past five seasons, including last year, the trophy stayed with the club to bring some festive cheer ahead of a tough Premiership run-in following a heavy defeat at The Greenyards two weeks ago.

The game produced two tries, two yellow cards, some adventurous rugby and the expected classic mistakes in the cold – the crowd calling for an early finish and some indoors heat!

In a stop-start first 40 minutes, Gala had their fair share of possession, but Melrose, with wind advantage, turned around 5-0 ahead with a try by Sam Pecquer from a pass by Craig Jackson.

Gala elected to pass up three penalty attempts into the gale, and despite opting for scrums and good play, Melrose’s defence held firm.

Jackson pulled a penalty wide and Ben McLean went close after more Melrose pressure.

The visitors went ahead in 18 minutes, Pecquer with space and time to touch down.

Gala decided to continue to opt for the scrum rather kick for goal in front of the posts. Again the Melrose defence held out and the visitors turned around 5-0 ahead.

On the restart, Gary Robertson and Callum Wylde left the field injured and seconds later, Callum Crookshank was yellow-carded to reduce Melrose to 14 men.

Gala cashed in after 52 minutes when pressure on the line ended with Gary Adams powering over to equalising the scores.

Intense Melrose pressure should have brought a try, but despite a succession of penalties, which might have led to a penalty try, and a yellow card for Adams, Gala held out.

They retrieved the situation by returning to the Melrose half in the final 10 minutes and Melrose had to defend stoutly to keep the hosts at bay in the countdown to the final whistle.

After the game, Gala captain Graham Speirs said that he was disappointed that the team had not won the game, but delighted it had been able to hold on to the trophy.

“The referee did not indicate why there had been 13 minutes of injury time,” he added.

Gala: G. Speirs; R. Combe, D. Burrows, A. Emond, P. Hendry; R. Jeffrey, G. Lott; T. Skeet, D. Brooker, G. Robertson, C. Weir, C. Pate, G. Adams, S. Cairns, H. Borthwick, Replacements: M. Carryer, C. Reynolds, F. Welsh, R. Tod, L. Johnston, G. Mein, A. Turner, J. Watson.

Melrose: D. Colvine; P. Anderson, N. Godsmark, G. Wood, S. Pecquer; C. Jackson, S. Hutchison; C. Crookshanks, C. Mackay, R. McLeod, C. Wilde, A. Welsh, R. Campbell, G. Runciman, I. Moody. Replacements: R. Ferguson, P. Eccles, B. McLean, C. Howard, M. McAndrew, L. Mallin, T. Klein.