An icy chill had gripped Scotland overnight from Friday, although it was not as cold as the chill which gripped the hearts of the coterie of Hawks players, coaches and supporters at the end of the match.

A small but hardy bunch had made the trip to Galashiels in confident mood. Gala after all had not won a match since their visit to Old Anniesland and had recently lost to Selkirk which was the only victory for the men from Philliphaugh this season so far. Whilst Hawks had lost their last two matches, it was widely felt that that streak would end at Netherdale.

It wasn’t to be…

Gala looked up for the encounter early on, missing an early penalty as they put a penalty attempt across the face of the goals. But when they held the ball they seemed a bit harem-scarem as they seemed anxious to push for an early score unwilling to build patiently.

Hawks opened the scoring after 10 minutes, the visitors were awarded a penalty in their own half between the half-way and ten metre lines. Hawks resident Franco-Scottish scrum-half took a quick tap penalty and ran through the bewildered Gala cover. Ten metres into Gala’s half and he had evaded the pack. Stepping off either foot in turn he then escaped the Gala backs. About ten metres short of the try line looked to have been captured but alive to the opportunity he put the ball left to Andrew Linton who went over for the finish. It was then up to French-Frenchman, Pierre Mounal to step up to add the “transformation” and Hawks had the lead. (0-7)

Gala responded quickly but Hawks after a few minutes managed to clear their lines. The subsequent play close to half-way saw the visitors concede a penalty. Ruari Howarth put the ball into the corner and secured the lineout. Gala secured the ball neatly at the lineout, but the subsequent drive seemed to have stopped as three peeled off to the right and were over for the try with prop Alan Dell emerging with the ball. As Howarth missed the conversion, Hawks held onto their lead. (5-7)

Hawks were looking quite shaky on the ball and the set-piece, normally a strength, started to fail. Twice in the 5 minutes following the Gala try, the Maroons stole the ball in the lineout and put the Hawks defence under steady pressure. On getting onto some loose ball Graham Spiers, Gala’s full-back, looked especially threatening and seldom failed to make good yards with the ball in hand.
Gala, although still behind, were brimming in confidence, so much so that in 28 minutes Howarth attempted a drop goal, although with the knowledge a penalty was coming his way. Howarth put it into the corner, Gala caught cleanly and went over for the try. Sound familiar? What was also familiar was the missed conversion but Gala had the lead on the half hour. (10-7)

In 34 minutes Hawks gained a man advantage as Callum Rowlandson was sent to the sin-bin for a dangerous tackle and the visiting support were hoping they could take advantage. However, as half-time arrived Hawks had a solitary missed penalty to show for their advantage.

Within 2 minutes of the restart Gala’s numbers were restored and Hawks were left to rue the wasted advantage.

Any realistic hopes Hawks had of competing in the match were blown away in 2 minutes. First Gala full-back Speirs was over for the 3rd try aided by a combination of some elusive running of his own and some half-hearted tackles from Hawks. In truth it was a well deserved try for a player who had been a big threat. Winger Keith Young added the conversion and Gala had a 10 point lead. (17-7)

The Hawks kick off saw Gala come back at them and playing down Hawks left hand side, Gala were making great inroads towards the visitors’ in-goal. Suddenly, Gala’s winger Frankie Robson burst forth and was over for the bonus point try in 47 minutes, Young missed the extras, but Gala were now 3 scores ahead and it was hard to see Hawks coming back into the match. (22-7)

Gala seemed to be a side rejuvenated, George Graham typified the spirit, as every time Hawks made an error the scrum-half appeared to take advantage of the situation.

Time was marching on and Gala seemed to be through for a 5th in 65 minutes when they knocked on with the line ahead.

Hawks then sprung into life, Jack Macfarlane made a burst through Gala’s defence before putting the pass to Boyer. The scrum-half took the ball on before returning to Macfarlane for the hooker to touchdown. With Mounal adding the extras. Hawks had somehow narrowed the gap to 8 points and losing bonus seemed possible. (22-14)

Hawks received a blow in 71 minutes as they lost a player to the bin for the remainder of the match. Gala were to miss the consequent penalty but were not finished with scoring yet. Once more Gala rampaged down the Hawks left wing, only this time hooker Matt Carryer went over for the try, once again the conversion eluded Gala, but it required two converted tries to beat them with 5 minutes to go. (27-14)

Final score went to Hawks in time added on as Boyer took another quick tap putting Josh Henderson over for the five points. Mounal missed the conversion to the left but the referee ordered a retake as Gala had started their “charge down” too soon. Making adjustments the Frenchman was unlucky to miss to the right and there was to be no bonus point. (27-19)

It was a cold and long afternoon, but as the squad enter the final third of the season, it all remains in their own hands.