Ayr Rugby Club get set for Hawick cup test

Feb 27 2009 by Mike Wilson

Livingston 0 Ayr 58

THE weather relented, Livingston decided they wanted a game and at long last Ayr got their Scottish Hydro Electric fourth round cup tie played.

With no disrespect to Livingston who are so far adrift in Premier Three they have no hope avoiding the drop, the result was predictable and the 58-0 scoreline hardly reflects Ayr's dominance although it does say a fair bit for some gritty defence by the home side.

Frazier Climo opened the scoring with a try, Paul Burke nabbed the next two then Andy Wilson went over for try number four, none of which were converted in the strong wind.

Climo put that right when he slotted the conversion of AJ McFarlane's try then did the necessary with his own second to bring up a half time scoreline of 34-0.

The promising Colin Sturgeon nipped in off his wing for the first try of the second half, Andy Dunlop increased the lead to 44-0 then Climo ran in the final two scores and converted both to round off the scoring.

Coach Kenny Murray was just glad to get the team running. He said: “It was always going to be a difficult one – not so much in terms of the opposition but due to the fact that we hadn't played since the end of January.

"We went well ahead early on then went to sleep and made too many unforced errors. It was obvious that the side was a bit rusty but it was good to get some real game contact under our belts and scoring ten tries was not too bad a result. We came away with no injuries which is always a worry when the team hasn't played for a few weeks and we are up against that sort of opposition."

It will be a different story on Sunday when Ayr travel to Mansfield Park to take on Hawick in the fifth round after the borderers beat Gordonians 68-3.

Murray admitted: "We will have to step up a few gears because Hawick will be really up for it and there is always something a bit strange about Sunday games. We’ll be looking to get to round six because the fifth round is where a lot of the cup will be sorted out. If we get through and get a home tie then we can concentrate on the league game against Edinburgh Accies.

“That game cannot come quickly enough and the team is buzzing in anticipation of such a big match at Millbrae in front of what will hopefully be a massive crowd."

So the phoney war is over, it is down to real cup business and then, having cursed the weather for the past three weeks, the realisation dawns that it has done Ayr an enormous favour.

With only four points needed to clinch the Premier Division One title, there was always the fear that it would be a bit of disappointment if the crucial win was achieved away from Millbrae as looked to be the case at either Currie or Watsonians.

Not so now. The way the fixtures have fallen mean that Ayr will entertain Accies on Saturday March 7 and could lift the trophy in front of their home support, thus celebrating the greatest day in the history of the club on their home turf.

It is one truly for the history book and if the Millbrae men do clinch the championship on March 7, no Ayr supporter will want to miss out on the chance to say "I was there."