It was an indication of Kelso’s battling performance at Netherdale that centre Frankie Robson picked up the Booker Player-of-the-Match, and that it took a late score from Opeta Palepoi to seal the bonus points for the champions.

Coach George Graham was full of praise for the veteran try scorer. He told us: “It’s great to have him in the side and he has given us a lot. He is an absolute star and does a great job for us.” But he wasn’t so kind on the rest of his team.

Graham added: “We never played anywhere near of what we are capable of, and I was disappointed with our organisation. We did not create enough things in midfield.

“We won and got the bonus point, but that is not an issue with me.

“We have a game at Currie on Saturday, and if we play like that, they will beat us.” Craig Borthwick made a return to the 1st XV after being sidelined for the season (he played for the 2nd XV a week later), and has added to Graham’s fit players, from a squad hit by injury.

Kelso battled hard for 80 minutes of the game, which was held up for 11 minutes in the first half with an injury to Chris Riddell, who was taken to the BGH, but returned later to the ground.

The Poynder Park side has stepped up a gear since Gary Holborn, who did not play, and Andrew Skeen took over the coaching roles.

Skeen converted the two tries and hit the post with a drop-goal attempt to impose his influence on the match.

Gala opened the scoring when Euan Dods took a quick penalty to go over and cousin Craig Dods added the conversion.

When Shaun Law found space on the left to score from Keith Young’s pass, it looked as if the floodgates would open for Gala.

But Kelso dud in deep, and Andrew Tait intercepted a pass to run the length of the field for a try, which Skeen converted.

It stayed 12-7 until after the break when Russell Anderson got over the Kelso line.

However, the try seemed to lift the Kelso spirit who took control and Mark Wilson kept his side in the hunt with a score and Skeen converted.

Gala huffed and puffed for the fourth score and Palepoi, who had replaced Borthwick, went over from close range and it was relief all round for the support.

Gala: C. Dods; K. Young, G. Young, A. Emond, S. Law; R. Howarth, George Graham; L. Pettie, R, Anderson, C. Mackintosh, C. Borthwick, C. Weir, E. Dods, J. Irvine, T. Weir. Replacements: P. Stewart, O. Palepoi, G. Adams, G. Mein, S. Wilkinson, L. Bertram, I. Ross.