Gala YM 31
Hawick Linden 27
RBS EAST DIVISION TWO
A LATE try from Rex Jeffrey meant Gala YM snatched the points from this regional fixture on Saturday.
With Gala 2nds match against Dunfermline cancelled, the visitors lined up against a much stronger side than would otherwise have been the case.
The Royal Blues struggled to get into the game with the home team playing well and the Linden constantly falling foul of the referee’s whistle.
The YM took the lead with a penalty try from a scrum which was converted by Mike Dodds and stretched their lead with a touchdown in the corner from Rory Hedderly following some good handling.
After half an hour some fantastic interplay took the Linden to the home line and thrice they nearly scored but ultimately had to settle for a Barry Sutherland penalty goal. Linden lost three players to injuries before another Sutherland penalty brought the score back to 12-6 as the first half came to a close.
After the restart a dropped pass was hacked on by Sutherland and Nathan Murray won the race to touch down. Sutherland’s conversion put the visitors in the lead for the first time.
Back came Gala, with a try from Ross Livingston, but the Linden hit back immediately with Steven Bouglas going over at pace for Sutherland to convert.
Linden lost the kick off then their own scrum and YM took advantage. Some good forward work allowed Gregor Mein to go over for a try which he converted himself.
The ding-dong affair continued and the Linden forwards set things up for Sutherland to stretch for the line for an excellent try which he again converted.
With the clock running down some missed tackles failed to deal with strong running from the YM and Jeffrey clinched the try which was converted from out wide by Mein.
Gala YM: M. Dodds; R. Hedderly, G. Mein, A. Emond, R. Livingston; R. Jeffries, I. Ross; M. Christie, M. Kibble, L. Bertram, M. Horseburgh, J. Watson, P. Hearnden, G. Miller, B. Murray. Subs: M. Lees, D. Hughes, J. McGaughey, G. Hunter, A. Wood.
Hawick Linden: N Murray; G Thomson, S Bouglas, B Sutherland, C Gracie; S Renwick, R Hamilton; T Skeet, B Mercer, K Mabon, S Fairbairn, B Willison, G Wardle, G Cunningham, B Irving. Subs: S Harkness, J Gilchrist, C Turnbull, C Mitchell, RK Beattie, W Barker, R Stitt.