Ayr Rugby Club defeated in the Borders

Nov 28 2008 by Mike Wilson

MAYBE it is something to do with the border air. For the third time this season, league leaders Ayr travelled south of Soutra and for the second time came out at the wrong end of the scoreline.

Of the three border clubs in Premier One, Ayr can claim only Hawick as a scalp away from home as they went down to just their second league defeat, Selkirk the other side to have lowered the pink and black colours at Philiphaugh.

In the late morning sunshine, it was a 12.15pm kick-off after all, Ayr trailed after five minutes, a Scott Wight clearance hitting the hand of the charging Glen Tippett thus putting the Melrose players onside. While Ayr watched, hooker Wayne Mitchell latched onto the kick, exchanged passes with Bill Wallace and put the flanker over for the opening try.

Ayr hit back after Andy Wilson, playing at full-back, opened up space in the right for the ball to be swung back to the left, Richard McCallum made the dent and Damien Kelly's pass put Pat MacArthur over in the corner.

Like Wight had with the Melrose conversion, Frazier Climo pulled his conversion just wide then missed with a penalty from in front and 30 metres out but after a Melrose flurry which had Ayr scrambling in defence, the next chance came Climo's way and this time the stand-off nailed the penalty.

Ayr were now beginning to get the edge and a searing Climo break left three tacklers in his wake as he drew Jordan Macey then put Flo Marin over for the try.

Melrose hit back and centre James Lew, a former Aussie international sevens player, was causing problems for the midfield and the half-time whistle came with Ayr having to defend their 13-5 lead.

Into the second-half, Melrose kept up the pressure and when John Dalziel was held just short, the Ayr defence was sucked in, Wight looped Lew and put wing Callum Anderson over with his conversion taking the home side to within a point.

A spell of exhilarating end to end play during which both sides had their chances came to a close with a Climo penalty to stretch the Ayr lead. But from then on Melrose cranked up a gear and a Wight break to the Ayr twenty two set up the field position for Dalziel to draw the defence infield for the speedy Macey to take advantage on the outside and put Melrose ahead.

Wight hit the post with the conversion and it was remarkable to watch the two most accomplished kickers in the league by a long way have similar off days with the boot as he hit the post with a simple conversion attempt.

Melrose scented that Ayr were vulnerable to their quick breakdown ball and as a result of desperate defence, Wight struck three consecutive penalties to give them a 23-16 lead although even in that spell Ayr had chances which on another day would have been put away.

Finally, Ayr won quick ball in the Melrose red zone, AJ McFarlane whipped it out to Stewart Fenwick and his pass saw Scott Nimmo go over for his first try for Ayr. Climo again shaved the post with the kick and although Wight slotted a final penalty to clinch it at 26-21, Ayr held on for a bonus point.

Coach Kenny Murray admitted: "They were worth their win but we are very disappointed because we had enough chances to win it. We also gave away a couple of soft tries which is something we haven't done previously so in the end we have to be glad we came away with a bonus point."

Heriot’s skelped Hawick 43-7 at Mansfield to come to seven points behind Ayr in second spot and with Hawick due at Millbrae on Saturday, the coach was in no doubt about the importance of the game.

He reckoned: "They will be desperate for the points and it’s a game we have to win. We have to be more clinical in our finishing than we were at the Greenyards and we were defensively naive against a side who were prepared to run at us.

“We also have to look at our discipline under pressure because we gave away more kickable penalties in one game than we have in several of our games put together.

"We had to leave Ayr at 7am on Saturday morning but I would definitely not blame that for the defeat. We are still in a good position but it is a tight league and there are still a lot of points to play for."

Melrose coach Craig Chalmers commented: "Ayr are top of the league but I think they will be beaten again. I thought we were the hungrier side in the second-half and we dug in well at the end when a few decisions went against us and Ayr got a bonus point which they probably deserved."

So it tightens up at the top and this is where Ayr will have to hold their nerve. The chance comes to get back on track against Hawick on Saturday but as Murray pointed out, they are second bottom and will be desperate for the points so it will take a return to Ayr's top form to get the win.

Heriot’s play Watsonians on Saturday and Edinburgh derbies are unpredictable but Ayr's fate is now very much in their own hands.

After Hawick, they travel to Watsonians before Heriot’s pitch up at Millbrae on December 13 in a game which could have a massive bearing on the destination of the title.