Tough test in Gala ends in defeat (Report from Gala website)

Gala YM 36 Leith 10 (Home)

With the YM pitch a bit hard with frost, the game was switched to one of the narrower pitches which cramped YM's open style of play, especially in the second half when the visitors kept the ball with their strong pack.

YM went on the attack from the off and for the first twenty minutes Leith could not get over the half-way line. There were several close calls before a Mike Dodds penalty opened the scoring.

A great backs move saw Lewis Playfair in at the posts only to be recalled for a forward pass. A similar move moments later sent Lee Kibble racing in under the bar. Mike Dodds added the extras for a ten point lead.

A good spell by Leith saw them drive to the YM line and a strike against the head led to an unconverted try in the corner.

Stung into action YM came bouncing back with a typical Gavin Dalgleish try as he went from the half-way line beating man after man and raced over for his twentieth try of the season. Mike Dodds converted.

Just before the break YM got a third try when a lovely break by Lee Kibble sent Lewis Playfair in for his eighteenth try of the season. Mike Dpdds's conversion made it 24-5 at the interval.

YM went all out for the try bonus point as the weather deteriorated and after intense pressure on the Leith line Paul McDonald forced his way over and Mike Dodds's conversion saw YM home and dry.

Slack tackling as YM took their foot of the gas let Leith in for another unconverted try.

The visitors began to keep the ball to their forwards and the game deteriorated into mauls and rucks for a long period as YM used their subs with the game won.

At last with time running out YM started to use their backs again and slick handling from Lee Kibble and Lewis Playfair sent Billy Brownlee racing over in the corner to complete the scoring.