An injury-time penalty by centre Jack Steele gave the visitors a dramatic 33-31 win with the final kick of the ball to sink the Maroons hopes of national honours for a second successive week.

It followed their last gasp 33-34 defeat to Ayr which handed the Scottish championship to rivals Melrose seven days earlier.

Tries from Graham Speirs, Opeta Palepoi and Gavin Young, in addition to kicks from Craig Dods, ensured their was no repeat in the BT Premiership at the weekend.

But Young admitted his team were still hurting from last season and keen to make amends.

He said: “Our backs are usually pretty deadly when we can get a chance.

“We made it difficult for ourselves at times today with some silly errors. But when we got our chance we took it in the end. Once we get going we are alright.

“We’re not the biggest squad, we never have been, so we just have to play to our strengths.

“It’s the same group of boys as last year and we’re still hurting from last year but we’ve got to move on and take every game as it comes.” Looking ahead to this weekend, Young added: “It’s going to be a bit of a battle (at Hawick) but, if we play our game, there’s no reason why we can’t win.” Hawks arrived at Netherdale last Saturday with Glasgow Warriors captain Al Kellock and his teammate Tyrone Holmes in their starting line-up. And dominated the early play.

But, despite a predictably slow start, Gala were not to be fazed.

Jack MacFarlane scored first for the visitors with an unconverted try in the 12th minute.

Craig Dods narrowed Hawks’ lead with a penalty.

However, Finlay Gillies extended the Hawks’ lead with another unconverted try of his own after Gala were reduced to 14 men when hooker Russell Anderson was given a yellow card.

Craig Dods kept Gala in touch with the Glasgow side with another penalty before Hawks’ skipper, Steven Findlay, followed him to the sin bin.

And the home side quickly took advantage of their extra man with Speirs scoring a try in the corner just before half-time, with Gala going into the changing rooms 11-10 ahead.

Palepoi extended Gala’s lead with a try at the start of the second half before Craig Dods knocked over two more penalties, forcing mistakes from the Hawks.

And Young rounded off the scoring in the 75th minute which Craig Dods converted.

Speaking to the Border Telegraph after the game, Speirs said: “I’m pleased to be getting a few scores. I think the most pleasing thing about this one was the timing of it; we were under the cosh a bit in the first half when we went down to 14 men, so I was pleased to go over in the corner. It put us on a good footing for the second half. We knew that they (Hawks) were going to be strong up front, that they would have a good driving line-out, but I think our forwards fronted up well, especially in the scrum.

“There is a bit of confidence in the squad, especially in the backs; maybe a bit of new found confidence that we never had last year. The boys are expecting breaks and running good support lines. Hawks had a good rush defence today though which did snuff out a bit of our back play. And I think we could have maybe got a (four try) bonus point today.” Josh Irvine started for Gala after Stevie Cairns was injured in the warm-up. And Kellock, who was playing his way back from a shoulder injury, admitted he was impressed with the Maroons’ mix of youth and experience.

He said: “What I liked about Gala was their ability to move their game up. They didn’t play at their best in the first half but in the second half they came out and were really fiery. They’ve got some hard men, as well as some talented younger lads.

“With that second half performance from Gala I can see why they’ve been so consistent over the last few seasons, they were very good. We And he added: “They are going to be there or there abouts at the end of the season.” Gala: C Dods; G Young, C Auld, A Emond, G Speirs; R Howarth, George Graham (captain); L Pettie, R Anderson, E Johnstone, C Weir, O Palepoi, Gary Graham, J Irvine, E Dods. Subs used: T Weir, C Mackintosh, G Hart, E Scott, S Chapman.