Gala keep up title chase in 15-14 win against Aberdeen Grammar

GALA kept up their interest in the RBS Premiership title chase by completing the double over Aberdeen Grammar, with, yet again, a single-point margin of victory against them.

Perhaps it was a negative reaction to the 12.30pm kick-off or, as Maroons coach George Graham admitted, Aberdeen’s better readiness for battle, but Gala performed well below their British and Irish Cup form.

Graham said: “We didn’t keep hold of the ball but a lot of that had to do with Aberdeen. If they continue to play like this you wonder why they’re still near the bottom of the table. If you’d asked which team had come off the bus after a three-and-a-half hour journey you’d have said it was Gala.”

Yet Gala scored after only three minutes from a line-out drive that gave prop Luke Pettie a try, converted by Lee Millar. But Aberdeen replied with a converted try by flanker Tony McGinness.

Then Aberdeen wing Erland Oag skipped through two tackles on his way to the line, Rob Aloe again converting for a 14-7 half-time lead.

In a second half that ended with uncontested scrums due to Aberdeen injuries, Gala scored with a Millar penalty and a try from a line-out move by Gary Graham. Their 15-14 lead survived despite two late penalty attempts by Callum McConnachie.