Gavin Lowe makes his mark in Ayr's big win over Ardrossan Accies

Nov 30 2012 by Ron Evans, Ayrshire Post

On the face of it, Ayr had a 12 try romp against Ardrossan in the RBS West Regional Cup at Memorial Field, something of a warm-up for the biggest test of the season this coming Saturday.

However, don’t read too much into that scoreline other than to come to the conclusion that the cup format as it stands which can produce such a result and the 109-0 defeat of Lasswade by Heriot’s is flawed.

All credit to Ardrossan, they gave it a real go in the first 25 minutes or so and scored a cracker of a try but Ayr unleashed a second half onslaught which produced 50 odd points.

They also unearthed a burgeoning talent in young Gavin Lowe who scored three tries and, more significantly, nailed seven conversions, something Ayr have been sadly lacking in recent matches.

It had been hoped that this tie would have been relegated to a lower part of the column, something I am sure my friends at Memorial Field would have understood, when the news broke that Gordon Reid had been elevated to the bench for the international at Pittodrie against Tonga.

But in the event, the former Ayr prop wasn’t called on to strut his stuff in what turned out to be a humiliating defeat for the Scots.

Nevertheless, it was a fantastic achievement for Gordon to get that far, his name is in the frame and come the 6 Nations, who knows, with a new coach and if he keeps his form with the Warriors, that cap could yet be his.

So on to Saturday for what is quite simply the most important match at Millbrae since the men in pink and black beat Edinburgh Accies to clinch the Premiership title in 2009.

Gala come to Ayr having taken over at the top of the RBS Premiership table after a 17-12 win over Melrose at the Greenyards and now, with both having played 11 games, lead Ayr by two points.

Both sides have lost once, the two point lead coming from a couple of bonus points advantage for the Netherdale men but significantly the one loss they have suffered is against Ayr on their own patch.

To say that this is a title decider with six games to come after Saturday is not being fanciful and without doubt the winner will have their destiny in their own hands.

Gala come off two Premiership matches, a big win after a second half surge against Stirling County and a much squeakier affair at the Greenyards on Saturday.

Ayr have been a touch less than impressive against opposition from the lower divisions in the cup and on Saturday Kenny Murray’s troops must regain their early season form if they are to collect the points from their biggest test.

The side which goes out against Gala will be stronger than in recent weeks though with several players becoming available for selection who have been missing but it will take a massive effort to reclaim that top spot.

Kick off is at 3pm, a big travelling support is anticipated and the Ayr support could provide the mythical extra man for the side.

Don’t miss it.