Hawick 0 - 14 Gala

THESE are troubled days at Mansfield Park, and Gala showed no sympathy for a deflated Hawick.

Without a win this season and still without a coach, Hawick can only go one way and believe still they can that achieve that in Premier 1.

However, Gala showed on Saturday why the Netherdale players are a real threat for the title.

“We were delighted to get a win,” said scrum half George Graham. “We are playing with a confidence and the players turn on performances every week.”

For Hawick, failing to score for the second week in a row, it is back to the drawing board.

“The boys get us into that position and we have to get out,” said skipper Bruce McNeil. “We have to take positives out of the match. It has been our worst run for a long time.

“The mood in the camp is pretty good, and we are training well, but we made silly mistakes. We are in a dogfight for the rest of the season.”

Hawick fought hard, but Gala showed a determination and resilience, and particularly in the final ten minutes when the cover defence was immense to deny Hawick even a bonus point.

Yellow cards did not help Hawick, with Daniel Landels and Neil McColm sin-binned, while Chris Weir, of Gala, fell foul to referee Rob Dickson’s whistle.

Gala’s win ended any hoodoo that they might have had at a ground that has haunted them in the past.

Alan Emond scored the only try in the right-hand corner following some good handling, and Lee Millar banged over three penalties. Hawick need a revival – and soon – with Melrose next up at The Greenyards.

Scorers: Gala – Try: Emond. Pens: Millar (3). Hawick: N McColm; G Anderson, G Johnstone, G Hogg, S Anderson; L Armstrong, G Cottrell; R Sutherland, L Gibson, S Linton, K Willison, M Robertson, N Mactaggart, B McNeill, K Davies. Subs: H Scammell, N Renwick, D Landels, B Keown, A Turnbull. Gala: B Turner; S Law, C Auld, A Emond, C Robertson; L Millar, George Graham; L Bertram, R Anderson, E McQillin, C Weir, O Palepoi, Garry Graham, E Dodds, G Lowrie. Subs: P Stewart, C Keddie, D Marshall, A McLean, G Lowrie. Referee: R Dickson.