Ayr beat Stirling County to stay top of the RBS Premiership

Dec 28 2012 by Ron Evans, Ayrshire Post

OK, so the Mayan prediction went the way of a Nick Clegg manifesto and never materialised.

But when Ayr pitched up at Stirling the apocalyptic scene which greeted them may have made the end of the world seem preferable to thrashing around in the Bridgehaugh glaur, writes Ron Evans.

All credit to Ray Mountford and his team – that they are known as a bunch of forkers is, I am sure, apocryphal – for ensuring the RBS Premiership clash was one of only two to go ahead.

Nick Campbell breenged over for two tries in the first five minutes. Only the second was given though, referee Cammy Rudkin indulging in what has become a boring pastime of his of denying tries which cost them a bonus point.

Although the game could only truly be enjoyed by those of a masochistic tendency, the teams continued to bash more of 50 shades of brown rather than grey out of each other and Ayr proved to have the pack who wanted it more.

The sprightly Stirling backs boasted Mark Bennett at centre, who twice had a hand in Ben Addison crossing for a brace of tries which left Ayr staring down the barrel.

The pack again took a hand and hooker Hayden Wisnewski, who along with his fellow try scorer Campbell is probably the side’s most improved player, claimed the try just before the break.

Russell missed that one but Ayr deserved to have edged the first half 12-10.

Wisnewski doubled his try count five minutes into the second half, Russell converted and Ayr were more than a score ahead with the bonus point beckoning.

It remained tantalisingly out of reach as Stirling held the Ayr pressure, even to the extent of nicking a five metre scrum against the head, and when Brian Archibald nailed a penalty after Brian Edwards had shown that he couldn’t have bought a kick all day the bucket of valium was again being passed round.

Ayr continue their defence of the RBS West Regional Cup against Ardrossan Accies at Millbrae on Saturday as the curtain falls on what has been an eventful, frustrating but ultimately exciting year at Millbrae for the players, coaches officials and fans as well as your correspondent, who would take this opportunity of wishing readers all the very best for 2013.