Al Kellock must think of Netherdale as some sort of northern outpost of the Priory Clinic.

Four years ago, he checked in to play for Scotland A against the USA when he was recovering from a knee problem, and yesterday the Glasgow Warriors captain turned up with Glasgow Hawks as part of his shoulder surgery rehab programme.

The good news on Kellock's shoulder is that it came through the experience unscathed. Would that the same could be said for Kellock's pride, which took a bit of a battering as he and his Hawks team-mates endured an old-fashioned Borders doing at the hands of fired-up Gala.

The west coast lot seemed to be cruising to a comfortable win when they racked up a 10-3 lead after 25 minutes, but they were pegged back towards the end of the first half and were then outmuscled in the second by the rampant home pack.

Kellock took his leave shortly after the hour mark, and he could be happy with his personal contribution. He had put in a Trojan shift at the breakdown, made a couple of conspicuous charges and even survived a high-speed collision with Opeta Palepoi, a clash from which most players would have emerged on a stretcher. But still, the numbers on the scoreboard cast a grey cloud across an otherwise bright day for the towering Test lock.

"Personally, I feel really fine, really good," said Kellock at the end. "I played for about 65 minutes so the lungs got stretched as well. That's tough rugby, physically hard and hard on the lungs. It was a fast game on a big pitch so there's probably not a better test. But my shoulder came through absolutely fine.

"I'm happy about that, but my main emotion is disappointment because we lost. I wanted to make sure we won that game, but I'll get back in on Monday, do my recovery and push as hard as I can for Glasgow.

"I feel as if I'm ready and available now. Physically, it was fine. You are always a little bit rusty in your first game, but I felt good and I enjoyed it. I just didn't enjoy losing."

Kellock, who actually played for Ayr against Hawks last season, may have been among the foot soldiers, but there was another sign that he was back to his own self in his running dialogue with referee Neil Paterson. At one point, as a mass brawl erupted between the two packs, you would have spotted Kellock talking with Paterson a few yards away, just making sure that the official knew who the culprit was. How the Warriors have missed his analytical skills.

But as eager as he was, the greater passion was shown by the home side. Gala were rocked back on their heels in the opening quarter and looked to be on track for a real hiding, but they gradually took control, forced errors from their opponents and seemed to grow ever stronger as the match wore on.

And as hard-nosed a customer as Kellock might be, he ceded years and experience to Gala locks Palepoi and Tom Weir - brother of Doddie - who weighed in at 38 and 40 years old respectively. "It's not often that happens," he beamed.

As it happened, it was the other Hawks lock, Andy Redmayne, who nudged his side ahead when he charged over from a line-out in the right corner and scored the first try after 10 minutes. Craig Dods cut the gap with a penalty soon afterwards, but the Hawks' lead was stretched when former Warriors hooker Finlay Gillies, playing on the flank, was thrust over from a driving maul on the opposite side of the pitch.

Dods claimed a second penalty after 28 minutes, but things swung Gala's way when Hawks prop and captain Steve Findlay was yellow-carded before the break. The Borderers sensed their chance and went haring off towards the left corner. Winger Graham Speirs still had work to do, but he scythed past the cover defence brilliantly for the try that put them 11-10 in front.

After which, Gala really came out firing. Palepoi muscled over for their second try shortly after the interval, Dods whacked over a couple of penalties, and suddenly that lead was stretched to 22-10. By the time Kellock took his leave, the cause looked lost for Hawks, but Gavin Young made sure with five minutes left when he darted down the blindside of a scrum for Gala's final try.

Gala: C Dods; G Young, C Auld, A Emond, G Speirs; R Howarth, George Graham (captain); L Pettie, R Anderson, E Johnstone, C Weir, O Palepoi, Gary Graham, J Irvine, E Dods. Subs used: T Weir, C Mackintosh, G Hart, E Scott, S Chapman.

Glasgow Hawks: A Fleming; T Steven, R Beattie, D Milne, H McPherson; G Horne, P Boyer; S Findlay (captain). J McFarlane, B Cullinane, A Redmayne, A Kellock, T Spinks, F Gillies, T Holmes. Subs used: G Stewart, G Strain, S Thomson, K Beattie, R Houliston.

Referee: N Paterson (Dundee).