Caledonia Dreaming or Ian38018 Sporting Travels: Netherdale

Sunday, 16 October 2016

Netherdale

15th October 2015

Gala 22-21 Hawick

It had been some years since I last attended a Scottish club rugby match, and I had forgotten how much fun they can be – even if, I think most folks would agree, the actual quality is a long way below what it used to be in those halcyon pre-Pro sides days. This match between what once were two of Scottish rugby's Big Beasts, even this early in the season had the look of a relegation tussle; the pair of former champions occupying the bottom two places in the BT Premiership table.

Each had recently endured a spell in the second tier, and it was now thirteen years since either of these clubs had been crowned Champions.

Having no affiliation whatsoever with either side, allowed me the luxury of simply going with the ebb and flow of the match, willing either side to score whenever they came close to doing so. And it came to pass that much ebbing and flowing did occur.

Entrance to Netherdale - Gala RFC

Rear of the Netherdale stand.

Entrance to Netherdale - Gala RFC

This pic shows the proximity of Gala Fairydean Rovers FC ground (stand at right) to the rugby ground.

Panorama of Netherdale - Gala RFC.

The home side began the match in a real hurry, and were 14-0 ahead - Craig ROBERTSON and Paul HENDRY each scoring converted tries – with barely 20 minutes gone. The Hawick chaps however, to their credit did not panic, and edged their way back into contention with a couple of penalties. Then, in injury time at the end of the first half Wesley HAMILTON touched down to make things a rather interesting looking 14-13 at the break.

In the second period the sides traded penalties before, with 13 minutes remaining, Michael ROBERSTON scored a second try for the visitors to give his side a 21-17 lead. I thought Hawick looked the stronger of the two at this point, but the pendulum swung back in the direction of the hosts when Ross COMBE went over right in the corner.

A breakaway by Gala's Harry Borthwick a few minutes later really should have finished the match as a contest, but after running over the top of one Hawick defender, a second's last ditch tackle pulled him to the ground with the line beckoning. Thus was the game kept alive.

There was an odd incident right at the death, when Gala pinched possession from their opponents and one of their players, clearly feeling time was up (the scoreboard clock was saying 40:38) kicked the ball straight into touch. But to the relief of the Hawick fans (and the delight of any neutrals i.e. me) our man in yellow obviously felt there their was time for one more phase of play. And the visitors came mightily close to taking their final opportunity, but were just bundled out of touch a few meters short of the Gala line.

So, a narrow 22-21 win for Gala over their traditional foes – but a victory which appeared to be greeted more with relief than celebration around Netherdale, for I think the home fans and players realised how close they had come to losing this engrossing match.