Edinburgh Accies 46

Gala 7

David Morrison

at Raeburn Place

GALA'S encouraging start to 2018 ended abruptly on Saturday as they were outdone by a clinical Edinburgh Accies.

The Maroons could feel aggrieved to have ended their winning run the previous week against Aberdeen.

But there could be little complaining about the result at Raeburn Place as league leaders Accies dictated from the kick off.

Within ten minutes Richard Mill and Robbie Chalmers had both gone in for tries.

And the scoreboard was added to before the quarter hour with Ronan Seydak winning the race to a kick through for the third try.

Mill gave the hosts a 17-0 advantage with the conversion.

Gala had battled well up front with Chris Keen, Terry Logan and Chris Weir making valuable yards, but Accies defended well and when the opportunities came for the home backs they took them.

A Sydak break on the half hour released Matthew Cooper for the bonus-point try.

And before the interval some more good handling allowed Rob Lovett to barge over.

Mill's conversion made the half time score 29-0.

Gala went further behind at the start of the second period.

Connor Hirini collected an outrageous pass from Lovett to dart through a gap in the defence.

Credit must go to the Maroons for sticking to the task with some powerful drives.

And they were rewarded with John Turnbull racing over for a consolation try.

Dean Keddie added the conversion to make the score 34-7.

Gala couldn't continue the fightback and it was Accies who went in for a sixth try just five minutes later, with Hirini touching down again.

Chalmers completed the scoring with quarter of an hour remaining.

While Gala battled hard throughout a difficult afternoon it was Accies who showed the quality and enterprise that have taken them to a place in next season's BT Premiership.

Gala: Graham Speirs, Fraser Hunter, Daniel Nicholson, Alan Emond, John Turnbull, Dean Keddie, Ewan Gunter, Chris Keen, Lewis Roden, Terry Logan, Blair Reavely, Chris Weir, John Watson, Richard Tod & Stephen Cairns. Replacements. Paul Stewart, Jack Chambers, Robbie Irvine, Lachlan Johnston, Rex Jeffrey