Gala 29 Glasgow Hawks 14
Gala
Tries​Scott 39, 50, Somerville 40 + 6, Chapman 43
Con​Scott 39, 40+6, 50​
Pen​Scott 18
Hawick
Tries​Linton 6, Miller 30
Con ​Wight 6, 30


Gala tightened their grip on the RBS Premiership as they took 5 points from Hawks in a match which confirmed their top-spot. As the referee blew the final whistle the Maroons ran out deserved winners in a match which confirmed their title ambitions.
Ironically, Hawks started off in much better style than their hosts. The pack dominated in set pieces and they were certainly worth their opening try as Andy Linton went over in 6 minutes, Scott Wight added the extras.
The forwards were dominating the scrum and the catch and drive from the lineout saw the visiting side over the line, three times, only to be held up over. Gala seemed shell shocked and even a penalty from centre Euan Scott in 18 minutes only offered a short respite from the Glasgow forwards frontal assault.
Hawks battered away at the home line and were again held up over on the half hour mark. Ross |Miller had just come on as a replacement and as the Hawks scrum put a real shunt on the big number 8 picked up from the base and went over for the score again Wight added the extras and at 14-3 a bonus point win seemed to be on the cards.
Out of nowhere however, the home side who had looked a shell of the side who had drawn the match at Old Anniesland started to put a game together. Whilst the pack still struggled it was providing enough ball to allow the back line to start moving. A Hawks penalty was kicked out of the in-goal by Wight which gave Gala a scrum on the visitors 10 metre line. Whilst the home scrum was under pressure the ball went to the backs. Scott, stepped inside the cover tackle and made a line break. Hawks couldn’t counter and he was in for a try beside the posts which he goaled himself.
As has happened so often this season Hawks hurt themselves when indiscipline saw Miller despatched to the “naughty step” as he infringed under pressure. Once more Hawks found themselves short-handed.
Whilst the crowd were anticipating half-time. Gala stepped up the pressure and Gala took the lead with Scott putting the scoring pass to Grant Somerville in the 7th minute of time added on again Scott, torturer in chief, goaled.
The second half kicked off and Hawks, still with 14players, went further behind. This time it fell to Scott Chapman to score at the end of a move which went 10 – 1 – 2 – 7…
Scott, showed a bit of weakness as he missed the conversion but he was to make amends by the 50 minute mark. The centre ghosted past the Hawks defence which saw him score easily under the posts. With the easiest of conversions he secured a 4 try bonus for Gala.
Little did we know that the scoring was over and whilst Hawks tried to drag themselves back into contention Gala were home comfortably and Hawks slumped to their heaviest defeat this season.

This article was posted on 30-Nov-2013, 20:51 by Hugh Barrow.