Dundee HSFP 25

PREMIER TWO

LAING SPEIRS reports

from Netherdale

THERE can be no doubt that Dundee have earned their place at the top of Premier Two.

But Gala can look back at this game and feel that they made things a little too comfortable for their visitors.

For the second week in a row the Maroons managed to string together a series of mistakes which led to the loss of ball in contact situations and to some off-line kicking which handed away two tries.

The early tackling, too, left a lot to be desired.

The forwards showed what they were capable of late on to score their only try, but the times when they were in control up front were far too rare.

The injury list at Netherdale continues to cause concern, and this week's break from league action is regarded by the coaching team as good news.

Richie Gray wished the break had come a week earlier, having been prepared for a hard game against what he described as a good rugby playing side. He acknowledged that his team, playing against such competence, couldn't continue putting errors together.

Gala's Gareth Brown and Malcolm Horsburgh were two of the pack who put together an afternoon of full commitment, with sub Mike Christie – apart from earning himself a yellow card – putting in a valuable amount of work in the loose.

Andy McLean, returning from injury, played the last 20 minutes and showed a steadiness which helped Gala in the closing stages.

But the main problem was the lack of penetration in the three-quarter line. Ideas and variation were in short supply, and it's significant that Gala's thin pickings of three tries in their last three games have all been scored by forwards.

Craig Parker is proving a pretty dependable goal-kicker, and collected three penalties on Saturday, the first giving Gala an early lead. But Barry Jones was equally effective for Dundee and equalised with a penalty of his own before converting the second of two tries by the impressive centre Ross Lemon.

A Parker penalty saw Gala reach the interval down by 6-15, and there were hopes of a revival when he added a third penalty just after the break.

Poor tackling let replacement Ewan Grewar in for a try down the right wing, Jones converting, and it was getting late for the big Gala effort.

The forwards decided to go for the big drive with eight minutes left and David Marshall scored for Parker to convert.

But Dundee are not where they are in the league without being able to handle a bit of pressure and saw out time comfortably, Jones adding a late penalty.

Gala: B. Dick; S. Law, J. O'Neill, A. Emond, C. Parker; D. Keddie, L. Lemmon; A. Lang, L. Roden, C. Hogg, M. Howes, M. Horsburgh, G. Bryce, G. Brown and D. Marshall. Subs: M. Christie, E. Johnstone, E. Dods and A.McLean.