It was one for the rugby Richter scale.

The match had just entered its second quarter when the ball found its way into the arms of Al Kellock, and the towering lock set off on a trademark charge up the Netherdale pitch.

Eighteen stones of prime Scottish beef was going to take a lot of stopping, but Gala had an equal measure of Samoan strength in the ample shape of Opeta Palepoi. The ground shook as they met.

The megaton moment was not diminished one bit by the fact that the two players boasted a combined age of 71. As the 33-year-old Kellock and the 38-year-old Palepoi hit the turf together, their next likely destination seemed to be adjacent gurneys in the nearby Borders General Hospital's A&E department, but they rose, shook themselves down, and trotted off wearing broad grins.

For Kellock, the Glasgow Warriors captain who was on duty with the Hawks as part of his recovery from shoulder surgery, emerging from the collision with Palepoi in one piece was as good as getting a medical clearance certificate hand-written on vellum.

Afterwards, Gary Graham, the Gala flanker/lock who can put himself about a bit as well, asked Kellock what he had been thinking of when he crashed into Palepoi. "He asked me why I had run into him, and I said I hadn't come down here to run away from him," said Kellock. "That was a good test for me because OP is a solid citizen. But it was great to play against him."

Few players approach rugby's physical challenge with the relish Kellock brings to the task, but the entire experience of being back in a club shirt had been something to savour for the 56-times capped forward. From the moment he boarded the team bus in Glasgow for the long drive down to Galashiels, he was back to being one of the lads, sleeves rolled up and ready to get down and dirty for the cause.

Which was all very well, but they don't give up their ground easily in the Borders, and Kellock and his new team-mates - this was his first ever outing for the Hawks - came up against a Gala side that was in no mood to make things easy for him or them.

The men from the west ran up a 10-3 lead early in the game, but the Netherdale side piled on the southern discomfort after that, and were comfortably the better side by the end, worth every point of their winning margin.

"I never enjoy losing," said Kellock, but he was still grateful for the opportunity the Hawks had given him to play his first game since the PRO12 final last May. "We [professionals] get dropped in on guys maybe on a Wednesday and the coach has a decision to make. It's sometimes difficult for the young lads who have to drop down to the twos, but that's when it's up to us to make sure were doing everything we can to help.

"We met at quarter past 10 this morning and I had my pre-match meal out of Tupperware. It was good and it took me back to the Allan Glens and Stirling County days. We also came down a bit early today because the twos were playing before us, so the bus was packed with the ones and the twos and that's brilliant.

"It has been great. I really enjoyed it. You never know how many games you going to play. I want to play for Glasgow but, if called upon, to give my best here."

As regards his own fitness, Kellock reported himself satisfied with his shoulder and his all-round energy levels after a fast and physical game that was played in perfect conditions. Glasgow Warriors' next Guinness PRO12 engagement is with the Dragons in Newport next Saturday, and Kellock reckons he is ready to play if needed.

Hawks' coach Jamie Dempsey might prefer to have Kellock's services again for their meeting with Melrose at Anniesland instead. For the first quarter of this game they looked to be giving Gala a rugby lesson, but by the end they were sitting at the back of the class as the home side took control.

Hawks had claimed first half tries through Andy Redmayne and Finlay Gillies, but as slick as they were at times they never really managed to apply concerted pressure. However, Gala knew how to turn the screws, and with four penalties by Craig Dods - son of Peter - they put the squeeze on the scoreboard as well. Tries by Palepoi, Graham Speirs and Gavin Young only hammered home their superiority.