Ayr Rugby Club could be crowned champs

Nov 21 2008

RUNAWAY leaders Ayr go into the second-half of the Premier One campaign with an 11 point lead over Heriot’s who beat Currie 20-12 on Sunday.

And coach Kenny Murray has challenged: “If we win 75 per cent of our away games and maintain our home record, we will win the league.

“It is up to us to keep our feet on the ground and maintain our focus but if we do that we can realistically aim for success in both the league and the cup."

Eleven points clear, eleven games to go and Ayr have to do it all again if they are to make this the most memorable season in the club's history

The Millbrae men bid to keep their hot run going when they travel to the Greenyards to face Melrose on Saturday. A win there would be a massive step towards the ultimate prize.

Murray admitted he was under a bit of pressure when he came back three games into the season.

He reflected: “The side had won all three games and I knew it was down to me to ensure that they kept that going. We were playing the type of game we had planned pre-season and that had brought results, particularly in the second match at Hawick which was a big win for us.

“When we won at Goldenacre, it showed we could come from behind and win but I still reminded the players that they had fallen below the standards they had set for themselves both there and at Stirling but from then on the team has taken big strides to where we want to be.

"The one blip was at Selkirk which was our worst performance of the season on a day when they played really well but we have set ourselves targets and in the first half of the season the team have hit those targets consistently."

Murray admitted the goal was a top league position with a points record. Ayr have run in 39 tries at an average of four per game, while letting in an average of one. They also have by far the best defensive record in the league.

Murray added: “Home performances have been a big part of our success and the attitude and team spirit is outstanding. We are there to be shot at. Teams know now how we play and will be out to stop us so it is up to us to improve on our game particularly with the difficult away matches against Melrose, Boroughmuir, West, Watsonians and Currie.

The coach paid tribute to the squad from the front row on "where Gordon Reid and Stewart Fenwick have started every game and Stewart in particular has doubled as hooker when Pat MacArthur has not been available and his game has improved immensely this season. In the second row, Scott Sutherland is another who has started in every match and has become a formidable combination with Damien Kelly at lock.

"It has been terrific to see how flankers Paul Burke and Andy Dunlop have come back from injuries to play such a big part and Jeff Wilson has been a revelation while Glen Tippett at No8 has been rock solid.

"In AJ McFarlane and Frasier Climo, we have the best half back partnership in the league with Frasier's points scoring a huge contribution and although it was dreadful to lose Scott Forrest with a broken leg last week, Richard McCallum and Julian Montoro have put in some great performances in midfield.

“With Flo Marin, Andy Wilson and Ryan Holland all scoring tries from the wing, it shows that we are taking things from the practice ground onto the pitch. Athough we will possibly lose Grant Anderson to the Scotland sevens squad, he has played a big part from full back.

“The bench is formidable with Gordon Sykes, Scot Nimmo and Julian Rae all important cogs and at times when the opposition see the strength of our back-up they must feel pretty disheartened."