NATIONAL LEAGUE 1
SATURDAY 7th SEPTEMBER 2024
GHA 52 GALA 3
By CHRIS NAIRN
A warm late summer’s day greeted arrivals at Braidholm on Saturday. An expectant home support looked forward to the visit of the Borderers, buoyed by the excellent result last week against Boroughmuir in the opening league match in Edinburgh. Gala arrived hoping to continue their own winning league start and to repeat last season’s hard-fought victory over GHA. A busy club house welcomed our Sponsors for the annual Sponsors lunch. Our sponsors are a vital part of the lifeblood of our club, and it was delightful to learn that seventeen sponsors of the GHA squad were able to attend on the day along with our club sponsors Malcolm Group, JWF and Eastwood Electrical.
The ground looked in fine fettle, helped by the volunteers who assisted the “sprucing up” of the club house and its environs recently. The pitch was firm, and all newly grassed areas have taken to provide an even playing surface. A slight wind blew across the pitch and there was the hint in a slightly overcast sky that the sun would break through at any moment.
Both sides went through their preparations. It is typical of the class of our visitors that delays on the problematic M8, which robbed them of important preparation time, were dismissed as a mere inconvenience. Both sets of players went through a rigorous muscle warming and relaxing programme before embarking on drills and whole team movement. Our junior section provided a guard of honour and Ross MacLean and Shiloh Edgar took up their ball boy positions. GHA were led out to the arena by Michael Fox on this his 150th first team appearance. As our President stated in the match day notes: such longevity of service in the attritional nature of this level of rugby is astonishing and a reflection on “Foxy’s” deeply valued service to Geeha.
The home side appeared in their very attractive hooped jersey and the smart kit and ancillary training, and leisure kit issued to the squad is a direct result of the sponsorship we so value at Braidholm. Gala kicked off and put in a high distanced kick which was spilled, and the ball landed in touch at the GHA twenty-two metre area. Gala from the lineout moved the ball quickly and attempted to drive through the home defence. The visitors were awarded a penalty, and the Borderers chose to kick for goal. Their success meant that after two minutes the score was GHA 0 GALA 3. At that precise moment it was impossible to suggest that this incursion deep inside the GHA half would be one of the few times it was achieved by Gala in the whole match!
From the restart GHA broke down the Gala attempt to move the ball and the ball was cleared up to the Gala ten metre area. From the lineout Adam Kerr made a great break with Max MacFarlane in support before releasing Dario Ewing who broke Gala despairing tackles to go through and score. The try was converted, and the score was: GHA 7 GALA 3. This was a clear message of intent from the home side that had no intention of being not second best today.
From the restart, the home side once again took play into the Gala defence. There was a determination about such contacts which drove the visitors back in contact and allowed the ball to be recycled. Time and time again the GHA powerful pack would enter contact and win yardage before releasing clean ball. The powerful scrummage of GHA, anchored by gentlemen Low, Barron and Fox, set up an opportunity when the scrum was awarded a penalty inside the Gala half after sixteen minutes. The GHA back line moved the ball with precision before Glen Little took the ball into contact with support from Adam Kerr and Dario Ewing before enabling Luke McCutcheon to break through and score. The try was converted, and the score was now; GHA 14 GALA 3
The speed and intensity and accuracy of the engagement by the GHA players as Gala attacked was most impressive and was stifling the creative flow of the Borderers and continually driving them on to the back foot. Gamely the visitors attempted to battle their way back into the match but were struggling to match the speed and variety of GHA play. As we moved towards the half hour, an astonishing break by Gregor Drummond from his own goal line in one of the few Gala forays into GHA territory, looked to bear fruit and resulted in a desperate back pedalling by the Gala defence to stop Gregor running the length of the park, evading tackles on the way. Despite brave defensive tackles deep inside their own half, Gala could not stop a number of GHA players supporting the ball carrier and as a result Andrew Goudie was able to score to huge acclaim from the impressed home support. The try was converted, and the score was after thirty three minutes: GHA 21 GALA 3.
As we approached half time, and the hot conditions began to sap the strength of all the players and officials, GHA attacked from the restart and were awarded a penalty inside the Gala twenty-two metre area. The home side took the ball and drove through desperate Gala defence to collectively go over to the delight of the backs and register a score. The score at half time was: GHA 26 GALA 3.
It had been an astonishing first half display by the home side. Numbers on jerseys did not seem to matter as players interchanged and intertwined to devastating effect. The fabulous prompting, distribution and clever incursions by Ben Curtis was giving Gala no respite and continually set up attacking positions which were readily exploited by Andrew Goudie and the rest. Gala had really struggled to gain a toehold in the match and would need a huge second half performance to arrest what was becoming a rampant GHA side.
The start to the second half was rather scrappy in comparison to the fare provided in the first half. It took several minutes for both sides to attempt to find their concentration after a demanding first half. Several forays by Gala into GHA territory were met by powerful tackling which rocked the visitors back and indeed allowed the powerfully built and skilled home forwards to reclaim possession. The pattern of play as we moved into the forty sixth minute of the match began to resemble the play of the first period. Despite the heat, both sides refused to drop their intensity. As we headed towards the fiftieth minute, a marvellous link play between Messrs McCutcheon and the talented Curtis saw the latter put in a troubling bouncing kick which took play up to the Gala twenty-two metres area. From an untidy lineout Scott Derrick gathered the ball and made a searing break with support from the impressive Scott Plumridge. The break was stopped deep inside the Gala half as once again the visitors were forced onto the back foot by a GHA player breaking with support on hand. For several minutes the home side worked the ball through the forwards to tie in the Gala defence and look for the opportune moment to strike at the heart of the beleaguered visitors’ defence. Gala defended bravely but were unable to neutralise the pressure from GHA. Ball retention by all GHA players was another positive aspect of their play. In a series of recycles deep inside the Gala half, Messrs Kerr, Goudie, Little and Low worked the ball to the striking point before a lovely mispass threw the Gala defence and allowed Glen Little to go over and score. The conversion failed and the score after fifty six minutes was: GHA 31 GALA 3. The home support were delighted with the style and success of the play from GHA.
The restart was short and high which gave possession to GHA and allowed a masterful switch of direction by Andrew Goudie inside the Gala half to send a troubling kick through. Luis Barron was quickly up and put in a long pass to Fergus McCoss who in turn links with Lochlan Hodge and Andrew Goudie to cut through the despairing Gala defence and set up Luis Barron who goes over to score to huge acclaim from the home support. The try is converted and the score after an hour of play is GHA 38 GALA 3. Despite the situation Gala continued to do all they could to prevent GHA progress and stuck superbly to their task on a very difficult day.
In the minutes after the hour mark, play became untidy and ragged. It was little wonder after the high-speed match we had been witnessing. The home side were awarded a penalty and Andrew Goudie put in a kick to take play up to the Gala ten metre area. In another targeted feint, Glen Little moved inside from the secured lineout ball and left the Gala defence standing to run to the line and score. The try was converted and the score as we moved towards the last ten minutes of the match was: GHA 45 GALA 3.
The last ten minutes of the match saw both sets of players who had maintained a hectic pace slightly reduce their very high level of intensity as the sun bore down. However, GHA began to move back up the gears in the closing minutes and after some really impressive passing (which had been very accurate all afternoon) a lovely passing move by Messrs Little, Drummond and Kerr tore through the Gala defence to allow the supporting Luke McCutcheon to go over and score The try was converted to make the final score GHA 52 GALA 3.
This had been an outstanding display from the GHA squad. Basics executed to a superb degree, powerful forwards building attacking platforms, superbly managed by Ben Curtis and Andrew Goudie with a set of backs who continually improvised and kept their opponents struggling to cope. Offensive tackling which consistently drove the opponent back and ball carrying which made yardage and safely recycled when stopped. Head Coach Calum was delighted with the overall approach and execution of the squad and was proud of the achievement of Michael Fox in this his 150th match and the superb display of Ben Curtis.
Gala never gave up and fought right to the end. This was not their day, but they will cause teams problems in this difficult league. There is a real spirit of optimism about the GHA excellent flyers from the President and management point to a determination to move the club forward in an informed and valued partnership both on the field of play and off it.
GALA : R.KERR K.YOUNG M.WILSON J.TURNBULL G.COLLINS H.RUTHERFORD L.JOHNSTON G.FISHER J.EASSON K.SCOTT F.WILSON G.McCRUM D.WEIR B.GILL C.KEDDIE M.ANGUS R.TOD F.THOMSON R.MITCHELL C.BRYDON
GHA : G.DRUMMOND G.LITTLE C.LONERGAN M.MacFARLANE S.DERRICK A.GOUDIE B.CURTIS J.LOW L.BARRON M.FOX A.KERR J.FALLS S.PLUMRIDGE D.EWING L.McCUTCHEON L.HODGE S.COLLINS H.McKENZIE F.McCOSS A.MORRISON
REFEREE : Mr T FRENCH
ASSISTANTS: MR S BICKNALL MR B JOHNSTON
