Gala played into the wind in the first half and found themselves on the defensive for long periods.

Melrose took the lead with a penalty goal and further increased the score line with a second penalty halfway through the half.

Gala were coping well with the wind and denying all that Melrose could throw at them although Melrose increased their lead before the interval with their third penalty goal.

The nine point lead did not look enough in the conditions with Gala having the wind advantage in the second half.

Disaster struck Gala in the sixth minute of the second half when prop Paul Stewart’s second yellow card card meant it was a red and Gala were down to 14 men for the rest of the match.

They also lost Mike Dodds to a yellow for ten minutes but they dug in hard and a ruck on the Melrose line gave Dean Keddie a try which he converted to cut the Melrose lead to just two points.

A penalty goal from Dean Keddie gave Gala the lead and as the time run out he kicked a second penalty.

The match went in to injury time and Gregor Mein settled it with a neat drop goal.

Man-of-the-match went to Mike Dodds. Next week is the big one for Gala 'A’ at home to Heriots.