Ayr Rugby Club made to wait for title

Feb 6 2009

Boroughmuir 13 Ayr 13

AYR missed the chance to clinch their first Scottish title after a freak set of results at the top of Premier Division 1.

The Millbrae men and championship rivals Selkirk both drew their games in the race for the flag.

One draw is unusual enough. Two on the same day is a rarity since the current season had seen only three ties before Saturday.

The odds against the two most significant results in the league ending honours even would have had your local friendly bookie with a wolfish grin on his face inviting you to come in and lose your money.

It will now go to another week after Boroughmuir came back from13-5 down to level the score and Selkirk, the only remaining real threat to Ayr's hopes, did the same against West at Philiphaugh to draw 14-14.

It all started so well for Ayr with the wind at their backs when stand off Frazier Climo charged down a sloppy clearance from Tom Bury and pounced on the loose ball to touch down under the posts.

Conversion successful, seven points up after only six minutes and with the Ayr pack on the front foot, Climo stretched the lead with a penalty after 12 minutes.

But defending champs Boroughmuir weren’t giving up the crown lightly on their own patch and a fine finish from Bury under the posts reduced the defecit.

Ayr held that 13-5 lead into the break but were fortunate that 'Muir's Matt Cannon couldn't buy a penalty having missed a clutch of attempts before half time and one after the break.

But when the next chance came it was full back Stephen Ruddock who closed the gap to 13-8.

With skipper Damien Kelly out, nursing a knee injury, and AJ McFarlane off the field with a head knock, Ayr lost their way and even when the home side picked up two yellow cards and were reduced to 13 men, they could make no inroads.

Indeed before hooker Steve Lawrie was restored to the fray, Boroughmuir reaped the reward of some adventurous play when Malcolm Clapperton collected his own kick ahead to go over for the equalising score.

This was dig deep time and Ayr did just that with a massive defensive effort as 'Muir threw everything into attack for the winning score. The defence held, with Cannon and Clapperton missing kickable penalties and in the end it was a much relieved Ayr side who trooped off a Meggetland pitch which, with swathes of sand, bore a striking resemblance to Portobello beach.

Coach Kenny Murray admitted: "We always knew that it would be tough against Boroughmuir, they have quality throughout the side and after the effort the team put in against Selkirk last week, this was as hard as it could get.

"We didn't capitalise when we had the wind at our backs and when we created some real chances we weren't clinical enough with our decision making and execution letting us down.

“However, we did defend really well against a good attacking side who would certainly have won if they could have nailed their kicks and in that respect, we were fortunate to get a draw."

Meanwhile, Ayr's success in the league can be gauged by the number of players from Millbrae who will represent Scotland in the club international against France in Rouen on February 13.

In the squad are Pat MacArthur, Gordon Reid, Damien Kelly, Scott Sutherland, Andy Dunlop and AJ McFarlane representing the cream of Scottish club rugby.