What a difference in a year for Ayr Rugby Club

Jan 2 2009

Ayr Rugby Club

WHAT a difference a year makes. Twelve months ago, Ayr were third in Premier One, hoping for a top half finish and a decent cup run.

Boroughmuir were 21 points ahead at the top of the table, Currie were second and Ayr were one point behind them (writes RON EVANS).

As it turned out, Boroughmuir did clinch the title, at Millbrae of all places, Ayr ended up in the top half of the table and the cup run came to and end in the quarter-finals in that well remembered clash with Heriot’s, again at Millbrae.

That defeat precipitated the resignation of coach Craig Redpath and a whole new set of events was put in train.

Ayr secured the services of a new coach in Kenny Murray, the troublesome No10 slot was filled by Frazier Climo after the departure of Kenny Diffenthal and a whole new chapter in Ayr's history was set to be written.

Looking back to the end of last season and the team Ayr put out against Melrose compared with the side which demolished Stirling a week ago, the only changes are at stand-off where Climo replaced Boris Fournials, prop, where Stewart Fenwick moved over from hooker to replace Ewen Logan with Scott Sutherland moving up to take over the lock position in place of Scott Lines with Andy Dunlop coming in at flanker.

James Eddie started a week ago against Stirling for Jeff Wilson but the big Aussie, in the side against Melrose last season, came on in the second half.

With practically the same squad still in place, Ayr now sit ten points clear of Heriot’s with a game in hand and 14 ahead of Selkirk in third.

So what has changed, because it certainly has not been the squad in any significant way.

The new laws have certainly helped, Murray has built on the foundations laid by Redpath and has the team playing the style of rugby the former coach envisaged after the honeymoon pre-season trip to Clontarf only to have that ambition destroyed by long term injuries to key players while this season the team, with the exception of the dreadful injury to Scott Forrest, has managed to steer clear of serious harm.

There are three significant factors which have had a big influence on Ayr's success this season though.

In the draft pick of pro players, Murray was very shrewd in his selection, picking quality players who were always going to be on the fringe of the Glasgow Warriors squad but would be readily available. Therefore, Scott Forrest, Callum Forrester and, on a couple of occasions, Ruraidh Jackson have been included in the squad.

This season also saw the return from injury of Andy Dunlop, Paul Burke and from even longer term injury, Gordon Sykes. In the match against Watsonians, just when Ayr were getting on top, off the bench came Glen Tippett, Burke and Sykes and with three such seasoned warriors replacing players who had already made their mark, you could almost see the Watsonians heads go down. The strength of the bench has been incalculable.

Thirdly, Ayr have uncovered a real gem in stand-off Climo. The young Taranaki No10 has scored over 170 of Ayr's 434 points, an invaluable contribution in itself but it doesn't stop there.

With a quality player like Climo partnering the irrepressible AJ McFarlane at half back, players like Richard McCallum and Julian Montoro, another broken leg returnee, have blossomed, particularly McCallum, who must, along with McFarlane, consider himself desperately unlucky not to be included in the Scotland club international squad along with selected team mates Gordon Reid, Damien Kelly, Scott Sutherland, Paul Burke and Andy Dunlop.

These three factors, along with a team spirit engendered by skipper Kelly, that is a joy to behold, a back-up group both on and off the field and a crowd of supporters at Millbrae for each home match which is the envy of every club in Premier One with the possible exception of Selkirk, have led to Ayr being on the cusp of the most successful season in the history of the club and going into 2009 with the Premier One title there to be won.

Your correspondent wishes the team and the club every success and to those readers who can bear to peruse these scribblings each week, a happy, peaceful and healthy 2009.