Biggar's National League 1 title dreams fade after narrow defeat to rivals

Biggar’s Tennent’s National League 1 title hopes are all-but over after crashing to a narrow 29-26 defeat at home to Gala.

The result puts Gala top on 84 points, Heriot’s in second on 82, and Biggar on 77.

The Hartree Mill club knew they had to win all of the rest of their games, and while promotion isn’t impossible, it’s now looking decidedly unlikely.

Their final two games are at home, however, against Ayr on April 16 and Highland seven days later, so there is still a faint glimmer of hope – but their rivals would both need to lose games, and clash on April 16.

As it was, Biggar lost the game by three points, but three yellow cards meant they played over a third of the game with just 14 men.

With so much at stake this game was expected to be a thriller, and was in the balance until the final whistle.

Both sides scored four tries, so in addition to the league points won, both sides gained an extra point, with Biggar also gaining a losing bonus.

Biggar’s Robbie Orr made two telling tackles to prevent Gala from making a breakthrough, before scoring his side’s opening try, latching onto a pass from Chris Mulligan after the captain had made a 30-yard run. Euan Bogle added the conversion for a 7-0 lead.

The hosts then lost out as the restart from Gala was fumbled and ball played by a player in an offside position, with visiting stand-off Craig Dodds converting the penalty for 7-3.

When Gala No.8 Angus Dun was impeded, Ross Jackson was yellow carded and Biggar were down to 14.

The penalty kick to touch preceded a good take and lineout drive, which ended with Jack Easson touching down, stretching in front 8-7.

Biggar went back in front in 22 minutes when Gary Napier bulldozed his way over the Gala line, with Bogle tagging the