GALA ended their league campaign with a loss at home to Melrose in a match which saw the visitors crowned Under 14 League Champions.

Both teams came into the match on one league defeat, so it was a winner takes all clash, but that Melrose proved the stronger team on the day should take nothing away from a young Gala side, who will all be back again next season, that performed and competed well all season.

Brett, Gaddie and G Lindsay took the attack to the home bowlers from the start with Melrose rattling up 60 runs from the first ten overs, but the home side stuck in well to restrict the scoring by regularly taking wickets through the second half of the innings, as Melrose completed their innings on 92 for 8. Harris Rutherford was the pick of the home bowlers with four wickets for ten runs frpom his four overs. Murray Wilson picked up two wickets and Fraser Wilson one while Glen McCrum and Jake Pringle took good catches, however the Melrose total could have been much less had some early chances been taken by the home side.

In reply Gala struggled to cope with the Melrose opening attack and get the scoreboard ticking over, scoring just 23 from the first ten overs. They stuck in well however and battled hard to get their total up to 68 for 2 from their twenty overs with Jamie Crooks retiring on 30 while Jack Gammie also reached double figures, finishing 17 not out.

Melrose R Brett run out 24 L Gaddie c Pringle b Rutherford 16 G Lindsay not out 30 D King c McCrum b Rutherford 8 G Godfrey-Faucett b Rutherford 0 R Lindsay b Rutherford 0 S Wright b F Wilson 4 A Ramage st Reid b M Wilson 3 B Lynch b M Wilson R Donnas not out 3 b-3 lb-1 w-3 nb-2 = 7 Total for 8 wkts 92 Gala U14 J Crooks retired 30 C Scott run out 0 H Rutherford b R Lindsay 2 J Gammie not out 17 M Wilson not out 3 b-1 lb-1 w-11 nb-3 = 16 Total for 2 wkts  68