Hawick Linden 41

Gala YM 23

Joe Dickson

at Volunteer Park

GALA YM gave East Division 2 unbeaten league leaders Hawick Linden a fright on Saturday at the Volunteer Park.

The visitors were leading 23-20 with only 12 minutes left.

But Linden dug deep and they finished with a great rally to score three converted tries in the closing minutes.

YM went behind after only five minutes when the Linden hooker broke two tackles to score a converted try.

Gala went on the attack and got on the scoreboard from a well struck penalty goal by Cammy Finlayson.

Unfortunately the match was stopped when Dave Montgomery of Linden was injured in a fall from a lineout and there was a half hour delay before play could restart after the ambulance took him to hospital -YM wish him well in his recovery.

Finlayson kicked his second penalty to close the gap.

A great run by Kerr Smith should have given YM a try but the final pass went to ground.

Linden kicked their way to the YM 22 before landing a penalty goal.

A great driving maul pushed YM back over their line and Linden scored their second try.

There was a quick riposte by YM when a neat break in the centre and a thrust by Tommy Smith sent him racing to the line.

Cammy Finlayson added the extras and there was only two points in it at the break.

YM came out for the second half with all guns blazing and after a spell of pressure, Finlayson dropped a goal to put YM in front.

It was all YM for the next 20 minutes and they pounded the Linden line.

The defence finally cracked and Jamie Dewar scored a great try belying his 43 years.

Finlayson converted for an eight point lead.

Linden started the long fight back and their heavier pack drove to the line for an unconverted try.

YM were tiring and they struggled to defend their three point lead.

Linden got their bonus point try which was converted with five minutes left.

In the lead now, Linden found another gear and rattled in a couple of converted tries to put a better complexion on what had been a very tight game.

YM’s man of the match was Kieran Douglass.

This week YM are away to Penicuik.