Gala 12 - 32 Currie: Borderers undone by hot Currie

After a difficult start to their season, Currie are looking like championship challengers after achieving a second win in Premiership A with a substantial victory over an out-of-sorts Gala side at Netherdale yesterday to put them second in the table.

The margin of victory over a Gala side which had set the pace before the mid-season league break was unexpected but not unmerited by a Currie team that looked better in almost every phase of play, and not least in the forward battle where the Malleny Park eight were much the more street-wise of the two packs.

Behind the scrum, Currie had an outstanding performance from stand-off Jamie Forbes, whose distribution and pace gave his outside backs the chance to attack with style and effectiveness. Forbes has, for the most part, played at full back but his display yesterday may provide food for thought in the Currie camp.

For Gala the contrast between their pre-Christmas form and what has become an unhappy New Year is stark and somewhat inexplicable. “I’m at a loss to see where it’s all gone wrong,” admitted Gala’s coach, George Graham. “Losing Chris Auld to injury has affected our back play but we missed too many tackles – it’s the first time we’ve conceded four tries this season - and we gave away ball cheaply”.

Gala hoped the presence of Gregor Hunter at stand-off would have given them added strength but in the event the young Edinburgh professional had something of a nightmare game, dropping several passes and failing to ignite the backline.

Currie looked the stronger side from the whistle but were held to 3-3 until the second quarter when Forbes put full back Doug Fife in for the opening try of the match. Gala were dealt a killer blow when Dave Smith intercepted deep in his 22m area to run in for a try converted by Forbes.

Three penalties by Lee Millar narrowed the gap but when Dods was shown the yellow card for a straight-arm tackle on Barry Mansfield, Forbes again kicked accurately.

Then when the Currie stand-off raced over from close range and added the conversion it seemed that would be the final score.

But in injury time Ross Weston picked up and launched an attack that ended with Fife out-sprinting the defence for his second and his side’s fourth try, Forbes sealing a fine match with his fifth successful kick.