Ayr Rugby Club go ten clear at the top

Dec 26 2008 by Mike Wilson

DRAMA, controversy and style. Strictly Come Dancing?

Nope, Just another weekend at the sharp end of Premier One but producing a result which left the Ayr faithful purring as the Millbrae crew racked up a ruthless, relentless and blistering win over a game but outclassed Stirling side.

This was a crunch game for two teams at opposite ends of the table and injury hit Stirling knew they would have to produce the sort of form which led to the sensational fight back that toppled Heriot’s a fortnight ago. But despite the eventual scoreline, Ayr were apprehensive going into a potential banana skin match.

Frazier Climo and AJ McFarlane, the best half back pairing in Premier One, were both doubtful until close to kick off and given that Stirling performance against Heriot’s, the home side were taking nothing for granted despite the visitors injury problems as they continue to pursue the quest for the title.

Ayr eased any doubts immediately with a gem of a score, McFarlane leaping to knock Climo's pinpoint cross kick back into the hands of Stewart Magorian whose offload put James Eddie over for the opening score of balletic beauty.

Two minutes later Andy Wilson ran back a poor kick, his chip on was guddled and McFarlane pounced for the try.

Climo converted both and Ayr appeared to be coasting but Stirling upped their game and after several choice forays into the danger zone with Davie Lyle, Alan Robertson and Grant Gilchrist posing a threat, a short penalty caught the home men napping and Graham Lindsay scampered over.

Brian Archibald's conversion could have signalled a Stirling fightback but Ayr slipped into top gear, the pack pummelled the visitors’ forwards remorselessly and when Eddie and Andy Dunlop were stopped short, they stayed in the danger zone until Richard McCallum went in off a Damien Kelly pass and the big lock grabbed the next one himself, again off an Eddie surge.

With Climo converting all four tries, Ayr had the bonus, and the game, locked up.

Eddie, on the sort of rampaging form which must see him in contention for a Warriors place very shortly, was again instrumental in the lead up to Andy Wilson's try a minute into the second half after which Ayr huffed and puffed as some heroic Stirling defence held them out until the final 15 minutes but then it was exhibition time.

A ruthless display of power running, support and superb offloading produced a try for Paul Burke, two for Pat MacArthur and a final ignominy, a penalty try.

Climo converted all five of the second half tries for a display which would have been a perfect ten had it not been for one narrowly missed penalty in the first half and Ayr moved ten points clear at the top.

That is ten ahead of Heriot’s over whom Ayr have a game in hand though, the Goldenacre side moving above their real challengers Selkirk whose match against Watsonians was called off on Saturday morning.

The same Myreside mob who pulled out of the clash with Ayr two weeks ago in dubious circumstances did it again, this time allegedly without even the involvement of a referee, claiming a waterlogged pitch which an independent observer suggested would be well playable by kick-off time.

This means that both the genuine title contenders have to travel to Myreside on re-scheduled dates in the new year which has thrown the fixture list out of kilter and could have a distorting influence on the title race.

However, in this season of goodwill to all men let us just hope that the league has been wrapped up by then and the winners can send a 2nd XV to the capital and still whup them!

Such thoughts were far from the mind of Ayr skipper Damien Kelly who was obviously delighted with the result.

Kelly revealed: “It’s great for us to go into the break with that sort of win behind us and yes, it was the sort of game which we could have lost because we knew that, given their position in the league, Stirling would put up a real fight and even after we scored the two early tries, they came back at us because we went to sleep a bit.

"We stepped it up really well after they scored and went on to do what we do best and it was pleasing to see how we could keep that high standard of game going right through to the last minute. We are taking nothing for granted though and into the new year we have a hard run in and will focus on each game as it comes."

So Ayr reach the end of what has been a momentous year for the club. Going into the final stages of the league campaign and with the Scottish Hydro Electric Cup beckoning means that there will be no let up at Millbrae in a season when maybe, just maybe, the dream will come true.

Team: A. Wilson; R. Holland, J. Montoro, R. McCallum, S. Magorian; F. Climo, A.J. McFarlane; G. Reid, P. MacArthur, S. Fenwick, D. Kelly, S. Sutherland, J. Eddie, A.Dunlop, G. Tippett. Subs: G. Sykes, S. Nimmo, P. Burke, J. Wilson, D. Steele.