Gala edge out Peebles as Border League kicks off season

DEFENDING champions Gala made an impressive start to the defence of their Border League title by defeating Peebles at The Gytes in the first competitive match of the new season with a powerful and skilful display.

As expected, the Premiership

side were too strong for their national league opponents in the forward battle where Peebles were left struggling in the scrums against the strength of Gala’s front row.

Behind the scrum the difference in standards between the two teams was palpable and contributed to four of the Maroons tries.

Against the run of play Peebles opened the scoring with a penalty goal by their young stand-off Greg Raeburn but the advantage was quickly lost after Joshua Park was sin-binned. That proved costly as Gala used their numerical advantage to register a penalty try, a pushover score by veteran No 8 Tom Weir and then from clever a touchdown by stand-off David O’Hagan all converted by full back Ruairi Howarth.

Peebles, however, narrowed the Gala lead with two penalty goals by Raeburn to trail 9-21 at the interval but in the second half Gala’s sheer power and pace allowed the Netherdale men to add four more tries, back rows Steve Cairns, and Euan Dods (2) grabbing three tries between then and winger Grant Somerville completing the tranche of touch downs, Ewan Scott converting two of them.

But in the final minutes home replacement Jack Harrison scored in the corner to give a late lift to his side.

The world’s oldest established club rugby union league in the world continues to get the season up and running today when Selkirk host Melrose at Philiphaugh in a 3pm kick-off.