In sunny but blustery conditions Northern hosted Gala at McCracken Park for the first of the pre-season warm up games.
With a bone hard pitch to contend with both teams coped well and as agreed beforehand, there were four twenty minute quarters to the game allowing both sides to rotate their extended squads.
The first quarter ended with no scores as both teams were well matched and showed good defensive organisation with any promising attacks being snuffed out.
Northern started to get on top during this second quarter as their pack took control and scored a well worked try when Tom McCullough took a short pass and broke away before putting Harvey Guthrie clear to dot down under the posts. Jonny Dowell improved and Northern ended this period with a score line of 7-0.
With a bone hard pitch to contend with both teams coped well and as agreed beforehand, there were four twenty minute quarters to the game allowing both sides to rotate their extended squads.
The first quarter ended with no scores as both teams were well matched and showed good defensive organisation with any promising attacks being snuffed out.
Northern started to get on top during this second quarter as their pack took control and scored a well worked try when Tom McCullough took a short pass and broke away before putting Harvey Guthrie clear to dot down under the posts. Jonny Dowell improved and Northern ended this period with a score line of 7-0.
More changes were made in the third quarter but Northern maintained their momentum and a moment of brilliance from scrum half Harvey Guthrie sealed the win for this quarter. Spotting a half-gap, he surged out of his own 22 before out-pacing the Gala cover defence in a swerving run and crossing for a super try. Jonny Dowell converted to give the home side a well earned 14-0 lead.
Further changes were made for the final quarter with Northern emptying their bench as players began to tire. Northern took an early lead when wing Ben White fielded a Gala kick and spotting space behind the onrushing defenders, showed good vision and skill to chip over the top and collect his own kick before racing in to score. Jonny Dowell converted to keep up his 100 per cent kicking return of the afternoon.
Gala came back at Northern and after the home team conceded a series of penalties in their 22, Thomas Chandler was the unlucky player to be yellow carded. Gala drove over from another five metre penalty for an unconverted try which proved to be a consolation score.
Further changes were made for the final quarter with Northern emptying their bench as players began to tire. Northern took an early lead when wing Ben White fielded a Gala kick and spotting space behind the onrushing defenders, showed good vision and skill to chip over the top and collect his own kick before racing in to score. Jonny Dowell converted to keep up his 100 per cent kicking return of the afternoon.
Gala came back at Northern and after the home team conceded a series of penalties in their 22, Thomas Chandler was the unlucky player to be yellow carded. Gala drove over from another five metre penalty for an unconverted try which proved to be a consolation score.
With the game becoming a bit scrappy at this point, Northern once again showed some enterprise and following up a deep kick into the Gala 22, they turned over the ball and quick hands put Matthew Webster in for the fourth home try of the afternoon. Joel McKale, now on kicking duty, slotted the conversion to give Northern an unassailable lead.
There was time for some handbags before time was blown with Matt Siddle being yellow carded for an illegal clear out and the penalty being reversed following some afters by Gala.
Northern almost ended the game with another fine try when Thomas Chandler collected a neat reverse pass and powered his way to the line only for the referee to deem the pass forward. Nevertheless, this was an excellent work out for Northern and a pleasing final score 28-5.
Next Saturday we host Edinburgh Accies for our second warm up game, which should prove to be another good test for us as we build towards the new season.
There was time for some handbags before time was blown with Matt Siddle being yellow carded for an illegal clear out and the penalty being reversed following some afters by Gala.
Northern almost ended the game with another fine try when Thomas Chandler collected a neat reverse pass and powered his way to the line only for the referee to deem the pass forward. Nevertheless, this was an excellent work out for Northern and a pleasing final score 28-5.
Next Saturday we host Edinburgh Accies for our second warm up game, which should prove to be another good test for us as we build towards the new season.
Match Report
By
Alan Belford
By
Alan Belford
