Gala YM 12
Earlston 6
Joe Dickson at Netherdale
GALA YM and Earlston contested for the new Jewson Cup presented at Netherdale on Saturday.
After a spirited first half, a serious injury held up the match for ten minutes in the second half, with YM dominating territory and possession but could not add to the half time scoreline.
Earlston started well to pin YM into their 22 and YM were forced to tackle desperately to keep them out.
It took a great break up the middle by Rory Hedderly to relieve the pressure.
Earlston missed a penalty chance before YM began to take control and a neat break and dummy by Murray Smith sent Graham Dun scampering down the touchline, beating the cover for a fine try.
Simon Fairburn added the conversion,
Almost straight away Earlston got into the YM 22 and Kris Rowley kicked a penalty goal.
YM began to increase pressure on the Earlston line and after several breenges, ably defended by the visitors, Gala swung the ball along the backs and Aidan Turner raced in at the corner for an unconverted try.
Just before the interval Earlston closed the gap when Rowley kicked his second penalty goal.
YM took complete control of the second half and for half an hour Earlston could not get out of their own half.
To their credit Earlston’s defence was good and YM were denied at every opportunity.
Halfway through the half YM lost John Anderson to injury and the game was held up as he was stretchered off to hospital.
The rhythm went out off the game with passes being dropped or misfired and although Earlston got more into things neither side could add to the scoreline.
It was Angus Miller, captain for the day, who collected the Jewson Cup.
YM’s man-of- the-match went to Simon Fairburn whose great line kicking had pinned Earlston into their own 22 for long periods in the second half.
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