Errors cost Peebles in derby match

Published 4 Dec 2009 12:45 0 Comments

Peebles 5 v 6 Gala

PEEBLES struggled to get out of their own half before the interval in this Scottish Hydro Premier 2 Border Derby clash at the Gytes last Friday.

The Tweed Homes men looked ring rusty as again, moves did not come off, ball was turned over in the tackle and unenforced errors gave possession away.

Likewise the visitors, much in the same vein, found it hard to do other than the same.

The crowd were certainly quiet in the first half with nothing much to cheer as defences were well on top and the only scores were two Gala penalties, one 5 minutes from the start and a second 5 minutes from the interval, both by fullback Graham Speirs.

There was however a couple of occasions that gave the Gytes faithful some hope for a better second half; a couple of good moves only failing because of previously mentioned foibles.

Although Gala had the first chance of a try, a forward pass put paid to that and Peebles took encouragement and strung together some good work that saw the ubiquitous James Oakes finish off what is now known as the only try of the game.

It started with one of Peebles' best lineouts of the game, the visitor's side of the half way line on the Tweed side. Gala did not challenge as Matt Thompson went high to collect and pass ball of the top to Fraser Strachan.

Neil Warnock took the pass at his bootstraps, Allan Smellie coming in on the angle as a dummy runner held the defence before Neil Hogarth took the pass at pace sidestepped the first two defenders before being caught by a third.

Held up in the tackle, Hogarth still managed to pass to Neil Warnock who had followed round on the loop and ran the ball into the Gala 22 before off loading to James Oakes.

With 15 metres to go it was not all plain sailing as he first handed off Shaun Law and left him flailing in his wake, and then beat the despairing tackle of Lee Miller, evading Opeta Palepoi to dive over the line.

The conversion slid by the right post. Remembering that this was only 5 minutes into the second half, the home support became more vocal expecting the Tweed Homes men to build on their opening score.

Instead the game became a continuation of defences on top, spilled balls and turnovers as both sides tried to invoke a heart attack or two in their supporters.

With the Peebles scrum in total control, and gaining several penalties for collapsed scrums it seemed only a matter of time before Gala would falter.

This they did not and despite several chances for both sides, the scoreboard was stuck at 5-6. Even a kickable penalty on full time went wrong as it slid passed the left upright leaving the Gytes men losing by one point.

This was never going to be a high scoring game and so it turned out. There was no lack of effort from both sides as tackling was ferocious at times and all the players knew they had been in a battle.

Peebles. Willie Aitken, Ryan McConnell, Adam Clark, David Harvey, Matt Thompson, Craig Borthwick, Donald Sangster, James Oakes, Fraser Strachan, Neil Warnock, Neil Hogarth, Allan Smellie, Steve Gee, Craig Hunter & Donald Anderson. replacements Trevor Keen, Neil Clark, Sandy Smellie & David Anderson

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This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 04 Dec 09

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