GALA have made a significant start to this first division rugby
campaign by knocking over, away from home, two of the acknowledged
heavyweights, Melrose and Boroughmuir.
They create a pattern of play that exploits strengths, and masks
vulnerability, which suits the capabilities and physical attributes of
the available personnel. This is vital in the modern game.
No-one knows better than the Netherdale disciples of Peter Dods and
Johnny Brown that there is a long, long trail awinding before the
championship is decided, and that some heavy artillery waiting just
round the corner might make it harder for Gala to stay on course. But
they make the most of what they have and show resourcefulness in
adversity.
For one thing, their early season fitness levels are very high. It was
the Northampton and England B centre, Nick Beal, who commented ruefully
after the Selkirk Sevens final in August that Gala had just kept on
coming at them, had run, run, and run again.
That dogged commitment to covering the paddock and to running as
quickly in retreat as in advance seems one of the important ingredients
in Gala policy. That this is augmented by an element of sharp
acceleration along their back division -- and with Mark Moncrieff still
to join the fray -- gives the Netherdale outfit a sharp edge. There is
in the wings the talented Jim Maitland.
Gala currently do not command the bulk or street wisdom of their
championship pack of 10 years ago -- Jim Aitken, Ken Lawrie, Bob
Cunningham, Tom Smith, Ken Macauley, Jock Berthinussen, Derek White, and
David Leslie -- and they may well have to make do on short lineout
rations especially against the big boys. It was tribute, however, to
their tactical preparation that Melrose and Boroughmuir monopolised
lineout ball, yet still lost.
Trying to keep your head above water against bigger, well-organised
opposing lineouts can be a frustrating task. Playing musical chairs with
jumpers, resorting to mini-lines and use of the tail places heavy onus
on throwing in. Things have to be spot on. Once at Meggetland on
Saturday that all round back five grafter Graeme Shepherd, shot to the
front and won the ball but was adjudged to have prevented it going five
metres which is a free-kick offence.
So, it made sense as a form of Gala insurance, to occasionally
withdraw a loose forward into centre to augment the midfield defence,
which, when allied to the tenacious marking by the centres, Jimmy
Turnbull and Brian Swan, explained in part the inability of the
Boroughmuir backs to bring enough workable ball to scoring fruitition.
Gala, too, clearly appreciate that if their lineout is to struggle to
stay upsides and, therefore, to have limited value as a launch base,
their scrummage simply has to prove dependable and competitive. All
scrummages are heavily reliant on their front row and Gala have a
formidable trio in Gary Isaac (Scotland A), Ian Corcoran (full cap), and
the captain, Hamish Hunter (South of Scotland).
Even without Corcoran they frustrated Boroughmuir's bulky pack in
denying them pushover success and the value of their scrummage in
igniting attack was demonstrated when Tom Weir's quick pick and drive
provided the time and space for Gregor Townsend to leisurely stroke over
his second drop goal in consecutive games.
Gala's planning also takes into account that any side anticipating a
shortage of good possession has to compensate with an amalgam of
aggressive harassment, strong emphasis on making tackles count,
quick-witted unorthodoxy aimed at catching opponents on the hop, and
individual skills that stand up so that whatever quality ball does
present itself is utilised to maximum effect.
Of course, swift engagement of opponents in possession has its
hazards. Loose forwards and midfield backs tend to look for flying
starts in exploding from just on, or over, offside lines and there is a
tendency also to infringe at tackle points in desperate search for
attack ammunition. Boroughmuir's promising young stand off, Bryan
Easson, had 11 offence kicks at goal against Gala on Saturday. Teams
short of ball tend to live dangerously.
Where Gala impressed most is in their alertness for grasping every
fair opportunity to run and handle. There is a spirit of adventure just
waiting to explode, as when Michael Dods gathered an Easson punt and
erupted out of the deep in a thrilling 60 metres gain involving both
centres and Weir.
Gala appreciate, too, that frequently the best ball to run is when
opponents have been quickly dispossessed at stoppage point. Nor have
Gala need to concern themselves about their forwards getting out wide.
Theirs must be just about the most mobile pack in the division.
As Watsonians, also, are not averse to spinning the ball, those at
Netherdale this afternoon could be in for a rich repast.
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