Gala 12 - 32 Currie: Title boost for Currie as Gala falter

THE Premiership A championship title may not be decided until the final day of the season, but Currie staked out a warning to the opposition with a performance of commitment and determination.

Coach Ally Donaldson admitted that the final score possibly flattered his side, and that there was also a long way to go in the title race.

Currie were helped by a breakaway try on the stroke of half-time and two scores in the final few minutes with Gala’s Euan Dods being sinbinned for a high tackle on Barry Mansfield. But they now sit only two points behind champions and leaders Melrose.

The result was sweet revenge after losing to Gala at Malleny Park in the opening game of the season. “But there are a lot of hard matches to be played,” said Donaldson. “Gala defended well, and gave us a hard fight.

“We were delighted to win and to get the bonus point, and also the Bill McLaren Shield for that is important to us.”

Gala have now lost two championship games in succession although their title challenge remains intact.

“It was disappointing,” said coach George Graham, “and especially the way that we performed and which allowed them to score two late tries.

“We just capitulated and that was hard to take for we have now made it hard for ourselves. But Currie are a quality side and have two excellent coaches in Ally Donaldson and Graham Hogg, and we knew that it would be hard.

“We were in touch with them until the last six minutes. Now we have a friendly game at Watsonians and hopefully we can get the train back on track.”

Currie were rock solid in defence and aggressive in attack while Gala did not have the same authority and too often lost the ball in contact.

Douglas Fife and Jamie Forbes, who scored 17 points, stretched Gala to the limit while the pack dominated, particularly in the second half when Gala struggled to get into their opponents’ ’22.

Gala had to rely on the boot of Lee Millar with four penalties while Fife’s opening score and Dave Smith’s breakaway from his own line two minutes from the interval kept Currie in the driving seat.

The final scores from Forbes and Fife finally snuffed out the home side’s hopes, but points in the bag will be seen as vital for the team that won the championship two years ago.

Scorers: Gala: Pens, Millar 4. Currie: Tries, Fife (2), Smith, Forbes. Cons, Forbes (3). Pens, Forbes (2).

Gala: L Millar; S Law, B Turner, A Emond, C Robertson; G Hunter, George Graham; L Pettie, L Roden, E McQuillin, C Weir, O Palepoi, Gary Graham, G Lowrie, T Weir. Replacements: A Johnston, E Dods, D Marshall, A McLean, C Borthwick.

Currie: D Fife; B Mansfield, J Johnstone, A MacMahon, D Smith; J Forbes, R Sneddon; J Cox, F Gillies, L Kivalu, S Marcel, G Temple, S Burton, M Cairns, R Weston. Replacements: R Merrilees, M Erskine, A Best, M Peacock, A Whittingham.

Referee: J Matthew.