Waverley Cup 2024 - Gala v Melrose
Gala v Melrose – 26/12/24
To allow the large crowd of some 2,000 supporters entry the kick off was delayed for the 2024 version of the Waverley Cup, doubling up as a Border League match, played on a dry, still, but dull afternoon with the Netherdale floodlights illuminated from the start. Honours were even for the first quarter of an hour before Melrose put in a series of picks and drives up the right side before Allan Ferrie, on the Gala 22, received the ball and raced just to the right of the posts for the opening try converted by Struan Hutchison. On the half hour Harris Rutherford was wide with a penalty attempt a couple of metres in side the Melrose half, but was successful, five minutes later, converting a Gala try scored by Jack Easson, who completed a series of plays after a penalty lineout in the left corner, thus levelling the scores.
Half time – Gala 7 Melrose 7.
Twelve minutes into the second half Gala won a penalty lineout on the right before a rolling maul rumbled over for Easson’s second try converted, this time, by Russell Kerr. Following the re-start Melrose benefitted from a 50/22 lineout and, after a series of picks and drives, Will Ferrie crashed over for the score-levelling try converted by Hutchison. From the next re-start Hutchison chipped the ball ahead. It was guddled by the Gala defence where-upon he fly-hacked it towards the Gala line. A series of picks and drives ensued before Allan Ferrie dived over for a try converted by Hutchison. Three converted tries in six minutes certainly kept the large crowd interested. There was no further scoring, but, with seven minutes remaining, Allan Ferrie was sent to the naughty step for a high tackle. Gala kept pressing and when it would almost have been easier to score than not, the ball squirted out of the side of a ruck and was duly dispatched into touch by Andrew Kirk for the no-side whistle to blow.
Melrose retained the Waverley Cup, earned Border League points, and, having defeated Gala 34-21 in a delayed National 1 match on 13th January, managed to end 2024 as they had started it – victory at Netherdale.
Gala 14 Melrose 21.
Gala – Murray Wilson, Ben Gill, Callum Pate, John Turnbull, Gregor Collins, Harris Rutherford, Eddie Eyre, Gavin Fisher, Jack Easson, Kyle Scott, Robbie Irvine, Glen McCrum, Jamie Bell, Angus Dun©, Fraser Wilson. Replacements – Michael Angus, Ritchie Tod, Jordan Corry, Jacob Moore, Sam Smith, Craig Keddie, Lachlan Johnston, Russell Kerr, Ritchie Mitchell, James Crooks, Cameron Brydon.
Melrose – Corey Goldsbrough, Matthew Bertram, Connor Spence, Struan Hutchison, Hamish Weir, Luke Townsend, Jimmy Coull, Will Ferrie, Logan Kirk, Zen Szwagrzak, Angus Weir, Angus Runciman©, Allan Ferrie, Jack Wilks, Elliot Ruthven. Replacements – Will Owen, Jack Dobie, Andrew Kirk, Angus Common, Ruairidh Lindsay, Scott Clark, Robin Sharp, Evan Davies, Declan Mulcahy, Keiran Clark.
Referee – Steven Turnbull
