Gala moved back to the top of Division One with a tense and hard fought win over Watsonians 2nds.

The visitors recovered from 72 for 5 to end up 131 for 8 from their 45 overs on a difficult Myreside wicket.

After reducing the hosts to 32 for 5, Watsonians fought back and in the end got to within 14 runs of Gala’s total before Scott Evans claimed the final wicket.

Watsonians’ decision to field first appeared a poor one after an excellent opening partnership between Finlay Rutherford (32) and Duncan Millar (20).

But Gala lost Millar and then Graeme Ormiston was bowled first ball. Jamie Crooks, Ross Patterson and Rutherford all departed to leave Gala facing a total under 100.

But Nick MacIntyre (19 not out), Max Hastings (13) and Rory Hancock (11) showed plenty battling qualities to edge the Braw Lads up to a defendable total.

And when McIntyre roared in to claim four wickets for 20, with Dean Moir producing his best spell of the season at the other end to concede just nine runs from his seven overs, Gala looked set for a comfortable win.

But it is never straightforward with the Meigle Park side, and Watsonians fought back through an excellent 50 from exciting youngster Carr, who had earlier taken three wickets for 12.

Finally, Carr was dismissed by Harris Rutherford with the score on 99 for 8, and when Rory Hancock claimed the ninth, it looked game over.

Once again Watsonians came back with number 10 batsmen Abbey making 16 to take the capital side to 117.

But finally Gala secured the win as Evans bowled MacLean in the 41^st over.

Gala

F. Rutherford b A. Abbey 32

D. Millar ct K. Rae b G. Carr 20

G. Ormiston b G. Carr 0

J. Crooks run out 4

S. Evans b G. Carr 6

R. Patterson ct K. Rae b C. Martin 1

R. Hancock b C. Martin 11

M. Hastings ct D. Bryen b M. MacLean 13

N. McIntyre not out 19

H. Rutherford not out 2

Extras – 23

Total – 131 for eight wickets

C. Martin 9-2-28-2; O. Robertson 9-0-30-0; C. Willsdon 5-1-10-0; G. Carr 9-4-12-3; A. Abbey 7-0-16-1; D. Bryen 3-1-10-0; M. MacLean 3-0-14-1.

Watsonians 2nds

E. Antunes ct H. Rutherford b J. Crooks 7

C. Willsdon ct R. Patterson b N. McIntyre 1

K. Rae ct G. Ormiston b N. McIntyre 7

O. Robertson ct J. Crooks b D. Moir 13

J. Osborne b N. McIntyre 3

C. Martin b N. McIntyre 0

G. Carr ct & b H. Rutherford 52

Z. Talbot b R. Hancock 1

D. Bryen b R. Hancock 4

A. Abbey not out 16

M. MacLean b S. Evans 0

Extras – 13

Total – 117 for ten wickets

D. Moir 7-3-9-1; N. McIntyre 9-3-20-4; S. Evans 8.5-0-27-1; J. Crooks 7-0-33-1; R. Hancock 5-2-10-2; H. Rutherford 4-0-14-1.

Gala/Hawick development team suffered a seven wicket defeat to Penicuik 2nds at Meigle Park.

The home side battled to 117 for eight wickets from their 40 overs which Penicuik cruised past in the 23^rd over for a deserved victory.

After a week of almost continuous rain, it was credit to the Gala groundstaff that the game was played on a grass wicket which unsurprisingly was damp.

It was therefore of little surprise when Penicuik put Gala/Hawick into bat when they won the toss.

Opening bowler Hafiz then produced a brilliant spell of eight overs containing seven maidens, conceding two runs and taking the wicket of Joey Sax-Simpson for 8.

James Boyle fell soon after and Gala/Hawick continued to struggle for runs although Craig Thomson and Alex Hastings did stem the loss of wickets.

When Thomson and Jamie Bell fell in quick succession Gala were just 28 for 4 after 20 overs.

But Scott Paterson (36) took the game to the hosts, supported by Alex Hastings (15), with Kenny Paterson (19) also helping the side up to a total which at least gave them a chance.

Special mention to youngster Robbie Paterson who made his highest knock of 14 not out.

For Penicuik, Wilson was the top bowler with 3 for 20.

In reply, veteran pair Scott Paterson and Brian Johnson looked to tie down the opening pair of Ainslie (30) and Murray (53 not out) but neither were able to make a breakthrough.

Craig Thomson bowled superbly to claim 2 for 26 from his seven overs, while Fergus Hastings (1 for 21) claimed the wicket of Wylie after a superb boundary catch by junior player Jamie Bell.

Gala/Hawick

J. Boyle ct H. Murray b A. Wilson 0

J. Sax-Simpson lbw F. Hafiz 8

C. Thomson ct R. Airey b P. Kingsbury 9

A. Hastings b D. Scarr 15

J. Bell ct P. Kingsbury b D. Scarr 2

S. Paterson ct P. Kingsbury b A. Wilson 36

K. Paterson ct R. Airey b A. Wilson 19

R. Paterson not out 14

F. Hastings b G. Ingram 0

S. Lindores not out 1

Extras – 13

Total – 117 for eight wickets

F. Hafiz 8-7-2-1; A. Wilson 8-2-20-3; R. Airey 5-0-13-0; P. Kingsbury 8-1-29-1; D. Scarr 8-1-31-2; G. Ingram 2-0-12-1; D. Ainslie 1-0-4-0.

Penicuik 2nds

D. Ainslie ct J. Sax-Simpson b C. Thomson 30

H. Murray not out 53

M. Wylie ct J. Bell b F. Hastings 6

S. Walter ct J. Sax-Simpson b C. Thomson 5

P. Kingsbury not out 14

Extras – 10

Total – 118 for three wickets

S. Paterson 4-1-20-0; B. Johnston 4-0-13-0; A. Hastings 2-0-27-0; C. Thomson 7-1-26-2; F. Hastings 4-0-21-1; R. Paterson 1.2-0-10-0.

A century from captain Finlay Rutherford guided Gala seconds to a 55 run friendly win over Manderston at Meigle Park.

Rutherford retired when he reached three figures for his second hundred for the club as Gala made 180 for five. He hit 12 4s and two 6s in his excellent knock.

He was supported by Max Hastings (12), Graeme Ormiston (11) and Ross Paterson (47 not out) as the hosts posted a decent score from their 30 overs.

Top bowler for Manderston was Mark Connington who took 3 for 10.

In reply, Gala’s teenage opening bowlers Jack Gammie and Harris Rutherford blasted away Manderston’s top order – with the help of a great catch by Graeme Ormiston to dismiss Wright – to leave the visitors 16 for 4.

But Tom Leslie (61), Mark Connington (14) and guest player Andrew Rutherford (13) guided Manderston to a respectable score as they eventually finished 125 all out.

Both Gammie and Harris Rutherford finished with impressive bowling figures of four wickets for 16 runs. Jamie Crooks also bowled well to take 1 for 16 from his six overs.

Thanks to Manderston for making the trip through to Gala for the friendly.

Gala 2nds

F. Rutherford retired 100

M. Hastings b M. Renwick 12

G. Ormiston lbw W. Connington 11

R. Patterson not out 47

J. Crooks ct S. Scott b M. Connington 0

H. Rutherford ct & b M. Connington 4

J. Bell ct E. Richards b M. Connington 0

J. Boyle not out 2

Extras – 10

Total – 180 for five wickets

D. Wright 6-0-34-0; M. Renwick 6-0-33-1; W. Connington 5-0-28-1; E. Richards 6-0-37-0; A. Mitchell 2-0-24-0; M. Connington 3-1-10-3; A. Rutherford 2-0-9-0.

Manderston

W. Connington b J. Gammie 5

S. Scott b H. Rutherford 5

D. Wright ct G. Ormiston b J. Gammie 0

T. Leslie b H. Rutherford 61

M. Renwick b H. Rutherford 0

A. Rutherford b J. Crooks 13

M. Connington b H. Rutherford 14

E. Richards not out 4

M. Taylor b J. Gammie 2

A. Mitchell b J. Gammie 0

Extras – 21

Total – 125 for nine wickets

J. Gammie 4.5-0-16-4; H. Rutherford 6-1-16-4; L. Skeldon 6-0-25-0; J. Crooks 6-0-16-1; C. Ormiston 5-0-25-0; J. Boyle 1-0-14-1.

Gala were well beaten by 134 runs at Linlithgow to suffer their first defeat of the season.

The visitors produced an all-round poor performance, with some lack bowling allowing Linlithgow to reach an imposing 215, before Gala slumped to 81 all out in Division One.

Gala captain Dinesh Tharanga had no hesitation in bowling when he won the toss on a damp wicket after a week of rain.

A sloppy start allowed Linlithgow to get off to a fast start on a difficult pitch until Duncan Millar brilliantly stumped in-form Gregor Thomson for 10 off the bowling of Rory Hancock.

Brookes and Stump rebuild the innings before the latter was given out lbw, but Brookes proved key to the Linlithgow innings as he batted sensibly while his team-mates attacked at the other end.

With a number of boundaries being hit on the small Boghall pitch, there were also some decent catches from Hancock, Finlay Rutherford and Jamie Crooks but Brookes finished not out for 75 to guide Linlithgow past 200.

Hancock took 3 for 39 while Scott Evans (2 for 41) was unlucky not to claim more wickets from his nine over spell.

Millar and Rutherford started off positively with both openers hitting a big six each, but when both fell in quick succession, it made a difficult task even tougher.

In the end, Gala slumped to 81 all out, with Hamilton claiming a 4 for 5 in a superb spell as Linlithgow claimed a deserved win to leave the West Lothian side as the only team in Division One with a 100 per cent record.

Linlithgow

P. Brookes not out 76

G. Thomson st D. Millar b R. Hancock 10

K. Stump lbw D. Tharanga 23

C. Black ct J. Crooks b G. Ormiston 15

R. Saunders ct K. Paterson b J. Crooks 30

A. Napoli ct F. Rutherford b R. Hancock 19

G. Blackwell ct R. Hancock b D. Moir 2

A. Newman lbw R. Hancock 1

G. Raven b S. Evans 8

J. Hamilton ct F. Rutherford b N. McIntyre 4

G. Kellet b S. Evans 1

Extras – 27

Total – 215 for ten wickets

N. McIntyre 8-0-22-1; R. Hancock 6-0-39-3; S. Evans 9-1-41-2; D. Tharanga 9-1-21-1; G. Ormiston 6-0-40-1; D. Moir 5-0-28-1; J. Crooks 1-0-17-1.

Gala

F. Rutherford b G. Blackwell 23

D. Millar lbw P. Brookes 17

J. Crooks ct A. Napoli b G. Blackwell 0

G. Ormiston ct P. Brookes b J. Hamilton 7

D. Tharanga b C. Black 10

S. Evans lbw J. Hamilton 0

R. Hancock ct P. Brookes b J. Hamilton 0

M. Hastings b G. Thomson 1

N. McIntyre b J. Hamilton 1

K. Paterson lbw G. Raven 4

D. Moir not out 6

Extras – 12

Total – 81 for ten wickets

G. Thomson 9-0-28-1; G. Blackwell 8-0-31-2; P. Brookes 9-6-7-1; J. Hamilton 9-6-5-4; G. Raven 2.5-1-3-1; C. Black 2-1-5-1.

Gala Rugby Club claimed the Galapate Social Sixes on Sunday.The rugby club defeated Ross Playfair’s All Stars in the final.

The Cricket Club thanks Galapate who sponsored the tournament, organiser Gregor Mein and everyone else who contributed on the day.

The rugby club winning side was, left to right, Simon Fairburn, Alan Emond, Rex Jeffrey, Steve Cairns, Gavin Hamilton and Ross Cooke. 

Another youthful Gala/Hawick Development team suffered defeat to table toppers Drummond Trinity by 144 runs.

With heavy rain in Edinburgh during the week, the match was switched to Meigle Park but the hosts were under the cosh early on as openers Gurjeet (87) and Pradeep (82) put on 164 for the first wicket.

Gala/Hawick did well to claw themselves back into the game however, as the returning pair Craig Thomson (2 for 39) and Alex Hastings (2 for 44) pegged back the visitors, with the aid of two catches by Maisie Maceira who also bowled well alongside Fergus Hastings.

The homesters got off to a solid start with Stuart Skeldon (14) and Jamie Bell (10).

But a succession of wickets fell before Paul Cowan (21) top scored to help Gala/Hawick finish on 86 all out.

Drummond Trinity 4s

A. Gurjeet ct N. Dobbie b L. Skeldon 87

A. Pradeep b A. Hastings 82

A. Puli run out (A. Hastings) 6

A. Naresh b A. Hastings 0

A. Jaykrishna ct M. Maceira b C. Thomson 11

A. Uday ct M. Maceira b C. Thomson 4

A. Mahesh not out 7

A. Logem ct C. Thomson b B. Johnston 11

A. Sai not out 1

Extras – 21

Total – 230 for seven wickets

C. Thomson 8-0-39-2; L. Skeldon 7-0-40-1; B. Johnston 7-0-50-1; A. Hastings 8-0-44-2; M. Maceira 3-0-17-0; F. Hastings 6-0-40-0.

Gala/Hawick Development team

S. Skeldon ct A. Mahesh b A. Uday 14

J. Bell b A. Sai 10

M. Maceira ct & b A. Uday 3

S. Lindores b A. Mahesh 0

C. Thomson ct & b A. Gurjeet 5

P. Cowan ct & b A. Puli 21

A. Hastings run out (A. Gurjeet) 0

F. Hastings run out (A. Gurjeet) 0

B. Johnston b A. Mahesh 6

N. Dobbie not out 1

L. Skeldon b A. Puli 0

Extras – 27

Total – 86 for ten wickets

A. Naresh 7-2-18-0; A. Logesh 4-2-5-0; A. Uday 3-1-3-2; A. Sai 5-0-17-1; A Ravi 3-1-3-0; A. Mahesh 7-1-13-2; A. Gurjeet 3-0-11-2; A. Puli 0.5-0-2-2.

Gala Under 14s made the last 16 of the Scottish Cup with a fine win at Penicuik.

The young side scored 133 from their 20 overs, with the hosts finishing on 92 to give Gala a win at Kirkhill to ensure a round two trip to Watsonians.

Gala lost Sam Lindores and Jamie early doors but Fraser Wilson (25) and Robbie Paterson (33 not out) put together an excellent partnership.

John Ingram then added 27 as Gala ended on 133 for six.

Penicuik were always struggling to keep up with the Gala total with Maisie Maciera and Paterson in particular keeping the home team in check while taking wickets.

Wylie scored 30 not out but the home team finished 41 runs short of Gala’s total.

Thank you to Penicuik for hosting the team.

Gala U14s

F. Wilson b H. Fishkin 25

S. Lindores b T. Wylie 2

L. Skeldon run out 4

R. Paterson retired 33

J. Bell bowled B. Gray 1

J. Ingram ct Ferguson b C. Hynd 27

M. Maceira not out 1

M. Lindores b R. Dougeledy 0

E. Wilkie not out 0

Extras – 40

Total – 133 for six wickets

F. Ingram 4-0-16-0; T. Wylie 4-0-26-1; T. Fishkin 3-0-16-1; S. Longcroft 3-0-16-0; B. Gray 2-0-25-1; F. Ferguson 1-0-4-0; C. Hynd 1-0-6-1; L. Cairns 1-0-3-0; R. Dougeledy 1-1-0-1.

Penicuik Under 14s

B. Gray b M. Maceira 1

R. Dougeledy b L. Skeldon 4

F. Ingram ct J Ingram b R. Paterson 9

H. Fishkin run out J. Ingram 15

T. Wylie retired 30

S. Wichell run out 0

S. Longcroft b R. Paterson 1

C. Hynd run out 3

F. Ferguson not out 3

Extras – 26

Total – 92 for seven wickets

F. Wilson 4-0-9-0; M. Maceira 4-0-18-1; L. Skeldon 4-1-16-1; R. Paterson 4-0-15-2; J. Ingram 3-0-13-1; M. Lindores 1-0-3-0.

Gala’s cricketers endured a frustrating weekend as the weather resulted in both games being abandoned on Saturday.

The first team hosted Stewart’s Melville 2nds at Meigle Park aiming to make it four wins out of four in ESCA Division One.

And they got off to another excellent start with openers Sid Siddhu (26 not out) and Finlay Rutherford (28 not out) sharing their third consecutive 50 partnership.

After negotiating a difficult opening spell by South African Ralph Giraudeaux and Australian Sam Langley, the opening pair began to open up, taking 16 off two overs by David Sharkey.

With Gala looking good at 53 off 13 overs, Stewart’s Melville left the pitch claiming the light rain was presenting a health and safety issue for their players. Gala disagreed but with no umpires present, and the light rain not relenting, the game was eventually abandoned leaving the Braw Lads frustrated.

Down the A7 at Hawick, Gala/Hawick Development team’s game with Leith FAB 3rds in Division Seven was reduced to 30 overs each to try to get a game in before the scheduled rain arrived.

The home side reduced the visitors to 54 for 5 but John Ingram’s 53 helped Leith to a highly competitive 167 for 7. Fergus Hastings led the way for the development team, with 3 for 22 while Scott Paterson took 2 for 21 and Brian Johnson was unlucky to finish wicketless from his six over spell.

But with the latter part of the innings played in heavy rain and with the weather not easing off, both captains took the sensible decision to abandon the match at the halfway point.

Gala v Stewart’s Melville 2nds

S. Siddhu not out 26

F. Rutherford not out 28

Extras – 4

Total – 53 for 0 wickets

R. Giraudeaux 5-0-16-0; S. Langley 6-0-24-0; D. Sharkey 2-0-16-0.

Gala/Hawick v Leith FAB 3rds

Z. Siddiqui b S. Paterson 9

B. Bhandari b S. Paterson 0

M. Parekh st M. Hastings b F. Hastings 21

V. Rajendran ct S. Lindores b F. Hastings 18

I. Fareed run out (C. Fernandes) 21

M. Lasure ct M. Hastings b F. Hastings 0

E. Caan ct J. Boyle b L. Skeldon 19

J. Ingram not out 53

N. Mehta not out 8

Extras – 18

Total – 167 for seven wickets

S. Paterson 6-2-21-2; L. Skeldon 6-1-35-1; B. Johnson 6-1-11-0; F. Hastings 4-0-22-3; R. Paterson 2-0-21-0; J. Boyle 5-0-34-0; P. Mactaggart 1-0-17-0.