You are here: Match Reports / 1st XV / Gala 28th October 2006
See the Gala view of the game here
See the Gala view of the game here
| “ NO GALA PERFORMANCE HERE” HILLHEAD JORDANHILL 16 pts GALA 11pts In a game, where there were few quality moments of play to savour, the “Hills” eventually triumphed over a stuffy Gala side by two tries and two penalty goals to one try and one penalty goal. But it was a contest which lacked any real passages of continuity play with the “Hills” dominating for the whole of the first half, but, once again, partially losing their way in the second. The electronic scoreboard moved first of all after some 13 minutes with the “Hills” playing towards the Hughenden Road end of the ground. Finally, the Gala defence yielded to commit an offence at the breakdown to give stand off Ross Curle the opportunity to kick a penalty goal. This seemed to settle the “Hills” as they continued to threaten the Gala gain line, and from one penetrating break from scrum half, Sam Muir, the visiting defence was breached. A quickly won ruck allowed the ball to be passed cross field but outside centre, Andrew Eggelton, still had work to do, cutting inside towards the posts before beating three defenders. The conversion was missed but “Hills” were now 8 points up with Gala still stuck in their half. A further Ross Curle penalty took the “Hills” 11 points ahead at the interval. In the second half, however, the Gala pack started to come back into it, but they continued to have a very thin time on the touchline where David Fisken virtually monopolised possession; Stuart Rose was also very dependable on anything thrown to the front. But Gala responded from their 10 metre line, latching onto a “Hills” spilled ball in open play, to move the ball through the fast hands of their stand off, Andrew Mclean, the most accomplished footballer on display, to expose the home team’s defence. Eventually, a neat chip kick though allowed right winger, Livingston, to touch down, but the conversion was missed. This score woke up Gala and they enjoyed some game time in the “Hills” half with Mclean adding a penalty for a breakdown offence. With the score standing at 11 pts to 8 in the “Hills” favour, the next score was to be crucial, and it proved to fall the “Hills” way with Muir working the blind side of a ruck to release Cammy McCulloch on a kick and chase from his own half, which resulted in a score in the right hand corner. The conversion was missed, but “Hills” were now one score ahead with the game in its final stages. Certainly, Gala applied, for the first time in the game, some pressure but it was all too frenzied and produced only another Mclean penalty goal. “Hills” now played the game in the visiting twenty two., and it took some desperate Gala defence to deny the “Hills” a further score. The game ended then with “Hills” taking their win points, and Gala a consolation bonus. “This game continued our improved form of late, but it was no classic,” said a relieved Aaron Collins, the “Hills” head Coach. “We again lost focus in the second period of play, and allowed Gala to come back on us, but our defence was up to the task. I was pleased with the form of our new starts, Jeff Wright and Sam Muir, and Stuie Ross did well as hooker. Next week, Biggar will prove to be a real Cup Tie, and we shall require full attention for the whole 80 minutes” “Hills” 1st XV –David Frame, Cammy McCulloch, Andrew Eggleton, Will Marshall, Stuart Todd, Ross Curle , Sam Muir, Willie Brown ( Joe Stafford ) , Stuart Ross ( Ewan Weir ), Bobby Agnew ( Joe Stafford ), Chris Tulloch ( Douglas Elder ), David Fisken , Jeff Wright, Stuart Rose , Cameron Kerr ( C ) Subs – Andrew Cameron. |
