Gala 30 - 17 Aberdeen Grammar: Gala take foot off the gas but have enough left in the tank for victory

A FOUR-TRY first-half romp by Gala left a healthy Netherdale crowd sitting back at the interval and looking for more. But Aberdeen had a different view of things, and resumed with some crisp and direct running, which quickly ate into Gala’s 22-point interval lead.

It was a turnaround which left Gala coach George Graham furious. Looking ahead to the important match with Melrose, he said it highlighted the need for his team to play for 80 minutes, not 40.

“We will be playing a very good team on Saturday and we can’t afford to play in fits and starts,” said Graham. “We dominated every phase of the game in the first half, but if anything it was all too easy.”

The Aberdeen view of the first half suggested that their slow start was a response to some travel problems, but that difficulty was certainly put behind them later on.

Reaching the 30-point mark for the third consecutive week, Gala drew on a strong performance by their pack, with captain Opeta Palepoi and Chris Weir dominating the first-half line-outs, and some wide-ranging covering by back row man Euan Dods.

Centre Craig Borthwick carved out some useful openings, but it was his perfectly-placed kick to the corner which let winger Shaun Law score the try of the day.

Scrum-half George Graham found space in a lineout to score the opening try, and former stand-off Andy McLean, on full-back duty, added another after Graham’s neatly-executed break.

When the Gala forwards produced one of several massive drives, Palepoi collected his fourth try of the season.

Grammar could put nothing together early on, but surprised everyone with a try just before the break when Apelu Alapati broke away down the right-hand side.

This was the spark that was needed and the experience of Alex Dunbar saw him coast in for a try just after the restart with Alapati collecting his second five minutes later. Both tries were fluid and created with style.

Rob Aloe released the pace of his threequarter line, but some scrambled defence by Gala, often fairly stretched, was just strong enough to stop further danger.

While there was no panic in the Gala ranks, there was certainly concern, and all rhythm from the first period was lost.

Replacement Gregor Hunter returned to his home club from Edinburgh and some of his mighty kicking eased a little pressure. But Gala never looked like building on their lead until Lee Millar’s second penalty just before the close ended the Grammar challenge.

But, as coach Graham readily admitted: “Aberdeen were very close to beating us today.”

The win with the bonus point kept Gala in pole position in Division 1. It left their committee in the happy position of planning for what will be one of the biggest club games in the Borders for many a day.

Extra turnstiles will be provided at Netherdale, and all hospitality places have already been taken up.

Scorers: Gala - Tries: George Graham, Law, McLean, Palepoi. Cons: Millar (2). Pens: Millar (2). Aberdeen Grammar – Tries: Alapati (2), Dunbar. Con: Aloe.

Gala: A McLean; S Law, C Auld, C Borthwick, C Robertson; L Millar, George Graham; L Bertram, R Anderson, E McQuillin, C Weir, O Palepoi, D Marshall, Gary Graham, E Dods. Subs: J Gilding, G Lowrie, A Emond, G Hunter, C Keddie.

Aberdeen Grammar: W Percival; C. Anderson, A Alapati, A Dunbar, E Oag; R Aloe, M Ward; N Fraser, S O’Connor, R Allen, E Nimmons, M Douglas, S Warnock, T McGuinness G Ryan. Subs: C McConnachie, S Binghmam, R Barrie, G Walker, R Lawson.

Referee: R Dickson.