After no competitive fixtures for several weeks Dalkeith were looking forward to this New Year league match against Border rivals Gala YM.

The home side made a great start pressuring the visitors in their 22 and after a devastating scrum gives Dalkeith a penalty, the ball is taken on by Reid who crashes through the defence and over for the opening score, converted by Clugston 7-0.

Dalkeith clear and then steal the Gala line-out ball, allowing prop Young a great charge towards the visitors line before offloading to Reid, who then miss-times his pass to Simpson, but the winger does well to recover and darts in for Dalkeith’s second score, 12-0.

With the Dalkeith forwards in the ascendancy, the home side look to be controlling the match, but Gala then show what they could be capable of if good ball comes their way, with two quick rucks sucking in the Dalkeith defenders and then text book handling and pace from the back division releases their winger for the score, the difficult conversion is good and suddenly it’s much closer at 12-7.

Dalkeith then get an early chance to add to the score when the visitors scrum half is too eager around the scrum, but Clugston misses the kick and Gala clear their lines.

The home side soon manufacture an attacking scrum just over the half way line and take the opportunity to call a slick move that releases Smith through the gap and after a 30m sprint he gives a perfect pass to the supporting Reid who goes over for the score, Clugston converts for a 19-7 lead. Unfortunately, Dalkeith lose the impressive Reid at this point to a shoulder injury and Clark takes his place on the field.

Dalkeith keep up their momentum, with this time Hamilton the man to make good ground into the visitors 22, before being scragged by the defence 5m out and the ball is cleared into touch. However, the home side win the line and after two scrappy phases Simpson shows great skill to round the defenders and score try number four, giving a 26-7 lead at HT.

The opening 15 mins of the second half is played between the 22s as Gala up their game in an attempt to get back into things, but the home defence is up to the task and the visitors don’t manage to threaten the home line.

Dalkeith then force a line out in the Gala 22 and a catch and drive is unlucky to be held up over the line, but the resultant scrum ball is spun quickly wide and Gala struggle to handle a speculative kick through from Hamilton and Swanson is on hand to grab the touch down, 31-7. Dalkeith then follow this up with another quick fire score in the corner for Simpson, converted by Clugston and things are looking comfortable now at 38-7.

However, the home forwards continue to keep up the pressure and are winning consistently good ball, allowing good handling in midfield to release the ever present Halliday on the burst and the prop charges a full 30m including a side step and over near the posts for the best score of the day, 45-7!

As no-side approaches, Dalkeith have time for one more score, with the Gala backs trying hard to make something happen in midfield, the ball is spilled near half way and the evergreen Smith is on hand to scoop up the loose ball and run in unopposed, 52-7 final score for Dalkeith.

A good win for Dalkeith on the back of a great performance by their forwards and there are now only two league games left before the league split. Next week it’s an away fixture at old friends Penicuik, 2.00pm KO.