PEEBLES 2nds 6 - 11 GALA 2nds
Allan Beveridge Reports from Hay Lodge
A second team game at Hay
Lodge, a sunny afternoon and a good hard game were no more than the few
supporters of both teams could have wanted, although the home team would have
preferred a win.
Two Martin Thomson
penalties to two penalties and one try by the visitors No8 all in the
first half was another rarity on this Border Championship game last weekend.
Peebles were again short on
personnel with injuries and players being unavailable for the second team
Second team players being drafted into the first team meant that Peebles had to
call on the services of two colts, both playing their first senior games.
Both look like they will be 1st XV players before to long. Martin
Clyde showed he has pace and determination on the wing and it was good to see
him taking on his opposite and more experienced number on the outside and
covering back in defence when necessary. Martin Cruikshanks at Stand off was
the man of the match. Playing outside Ewan Jackson,
(Peebles half
backs of the future - watch this space) he got good service and
he showed no nerves, taking the ball on the gain line, taking on the Gala back
row, running with the ball in two hands, kicking well and tackling
well. Peebles deserved more than a losing bonus point out of this game.
Gala knew they had been in
a game and will be happy to have sneaked this win with the only try of the game
being scored by their No.8 picking up and diving over in the right hand corner
after they had won a 5m scrum. Gala are always a good team to play against
they enjoy running rugby and their backs are good with the ball in their hands.
They played some enterprising rugby and on occasions it was only good last
minute Peebles cover tackling that stopped them scoring more when Gala had made
good ground often out wide. Once again this may have been
assisted by the fact that two good Peebles forwards Graham Hogarth a hooker and
Eddie Haldane blind side wing forward agreed to play out of position in
the centre as the two regular centres were unavailable. One ill the
other working. However Mesrs Hogarth and Haldane did stop numerous
charges by the big Gala inside backs and their back row where 'Hovis' Brown
still plays a prominent part for Gala.
In the forward exchanges
Gala possibly had the better of the scrummages with a bigger and heavier pack.
In the lineout however Michael Boyd and Ally Roger won their own ball and
a share of the Gala throws as well. It was good also to
have Matty Carryer back from New Zealand in the front row, although again
another player playing out of position this time at prop.
It was unusual to have all
the points from both teams scored in the first half with the Gala try coming one
minute before the interval. That did not mean that the second period
was stale. Far from it. Both teams threw the ball about
and Cruikshanks caused trouble for the Gala defence each time he had the ball in
hand. On one occasion he ran from his own 22 beat the Gala No. 10
and chipped ahead only for the visitors full back to beat him to the ball on his
22. Cruikshanks had several good similar runs and looked like he enjoyed the
afternoon.
Late in the second half
Pete Rainey replaced Rhys Wilson and Keith Nisbet replaced Eddie Haldane, (these
changes greatly increased the average age of the home team) but did not detract
from the performance and right up to the final whistle Peebles kept attacking
but could not breach the Gala defence.
A good game to watch.
A losing bonus point is better than nothing but this scribe thinks they deserved
more. However there is potential for next season.
Peebles 2nds still have an
outstanding league game to play against Gala and it could be tonight (Friday) at
Netherdale