Club rugby roundup: Edinburgh v Gala, Aberdeen v Heriot’s, Boroughmuir v Glasgow and Hawick v Currie

Our team bring you all the action from yesterday’s games

Edinburgh 16 - 36 Gala

GALA swept to the top of the RBS Premiership with a resounding win that featured a feast of running rugby, writes Colin Renton.

Gala displayed their enterprise for the opening score, a deft flip by Alan Emond feeding Lee Millar, who chipped over two defenders and won the race for the line. Accies squared matters seven minutes later when Greg Campbell barged through three tackles for an unconverted score.

Stuart Evans edged the home side into the lead with a penalty, then responded to a Gala try by Craig Robertson with a second penalty that left Accies one point ahead.

However, Gala dominated from that point onwards, and two tries by Euan Dods – the latter converted by Millar – left them 22-11 to the good at half time.

Gala continued to enjoy the territorial advantage and George Graham stretched the lead with a fine opportunist try. Millar again converted, and he did so once more after Russell Anderson burrowed over for his side’s sixth try in 57 minutes.

Accies had the final word with an injury time try by Jake Knight, but it did nothing to dampen the Gala celebrations.

Aberdeen Grammar 23, Heriot’s 14

ABERDEEN Grammar claimed a place in the top eight to ensure top-flight rugby in Aberdeen next season, while Heriot’s are all but condemned to the relegation play-offs, writes Jack Nixon.

The Rubislaw side were, however, forced to stage a second-half comeback after turning around 14 points in arrears against a lively and determined Edinburgh side who scored two tries to dent home confidence. The second half was a different affair as Aberdeen took advantage of a near gale-force wind to score two touchdowns through centre Will Wardlaw and full-back Steven Aitken.

Replacement centre Rob Aloe kicked both conversions, adding three penalties for good measure as the visitors wilted in the face of the difficult conditions.

The Goldenacre side’s tries came from hooker Kevin Bryce and flanker Fraser Brown, both of which were converted by the tireless Graham Wilson.

Boroughmuir 48, Glasgow Hawks 3

BOROUGHMUIR ran in seven tries at Meggetland to pile further pressure on Glasgow Hawks in what is becoming a nightmare season for the Old Anniesland side, writes Alan Lorimer.

Bolstered by new Edinburgh signing Seb Visser, and fellow professionals Harry Leonard and Robin Hislop, Boroughmuir were always in command.

Individually Visser impressed with his powerful running and try-scoring ability, scrum-half Sam Johnson was quick-witted and skilful and in the back row Andy Rose provided a tough presence.

Boroughmuir had the game won by half time when they led 31-3 with tries from Sean Crombie, Visser, and Andy Rose together with a penalty try, all converted by Ally Warnock, who also landed a penalty goal.

Hawks, whose only points came from a Mike Martin penalty goal, were subjected to further attacking play from Boroughmuir after the break as Visser made the running for a try by Ally Davidson. Then with a high points tally the only further objective for Muir, Jordan Webster and Visser ran in tries, Warnock succeeding with the final conversion.

Hawick 18, Currie 62

JUST a week after pushing high-flying Melrose close, the Green Machine spluttered to a halt against an improving Currie outfit, writes Fiona Scott.

Ultimately poor defending was the downfall of the hosts, with Currie running in ten tries overall.

Winger Dave Smith ran three quarters of the pitch to open the scoring before Fergus Scott rumbled over, with Barry Mansfield converting. Lee Armstrong kicked a 40-metre penalty minutes later to put Hawick’s first points on the board but Currie were soon on the rampage again, with prop John Cox crashing over.

Armstrong struck another successful penalty before the break.

It took only minutes for the rout to continue. Scott scored his second, and the bonus point, Mansfield wove his way through to touch down and a reverse pass gone wrong led to the same man repeating the feat shortly afterwards. Jamie Forbes nailed all three conversions.

A slick run up the touchline from Steven Anderson led to a try for Hawick but normal service was soon resumed with touchdowns from Michael Entwhistle, Ross Weston, Mansfield, Smith and two more conversions from Forbes.

Craig Russell scored a late try for Hawick, converted by Neil Renwick.