Gala 20
Boroughmuir 8
PREMIER DIVISION A
Laing Speirs reports from Netherdale
TWO tries are generally better to see than one, and Gala’s brace certainly made sure that the honours went to the right side.
It was not the most enjoyable game, but it did the business of keeping the Maroons’ season on track, while leaving Boroughmuir at the bottom of the table.
Gala’s two tries came from the props, which was unusual, but so was the fact that Gala faced real problems with hookers for virtually the whole game.
With Russell Anderson away to Wales, and Lewis Roden injured in the very early stages on Saturday, Gala’s front row had a lot of attention focused on them.
But Luke Pettie, Ewan McQuillan and Lewis Bertram enjoyed their afternoon while taking on unaccustomed roles up front such as throwing in and hooking.
The back division is being reshaped after the loss of Chris Auld for the season, and there was room for Lee Millar and Andy McLean. The former was in great shape with his kicking, and two conversions from the touchline were as good as anything in the match.
There was a lot to admire in the play of the Gala back row, where Gary Lowrie was outstanding, and Ewan Dods, even with a head injury, was heavily involved. Scrum half George Graham was up against a new scrum half and made sure that Harry Fenton had a troubled afternoon.
It was far from Gala’s best show of the season, but George Graham was delighted to get the losing run behind him. He had been hoping for something better in Gala’s handling and reckoned there had been too many unforced errors.
Millar and Ally Warnock swapped penalty goals early on before the game settled down, and the only enterprise came from some crossfield kicks.
When the first try arrived, it followed some sturdy work by the pack after Shaun Law and Lowrie had applied the initial pressure. McQuillin got the credit and McLean’s kick was perfect.
The second half brought some more handling mistakes, and Gala endured a period when Boroughmuir looked threatening.
But again the pack proved the stronger and Luke Pettie was never going to be stopped from a few yards out. Millar’s long conversion was followed, late on, by his second penalty to ease Gala through a match. It was never a classic, but it was a big improvement on the last two.
Gala: B. Turner; S.Law, L. Millar, A. Emond, C. Robertson; A. McLean, George Graham; L. Pettie, L. Roden, E. McQulllan, C. Weir, O Palepoi, Gary Graham, G. Lowrie, E. Dods. Subs: L. Bertram, S. Cairns, C. Borthwick, C. Dods, D. Marshall.