Ayr Rugby Club are edged out in Cardiff

Mar 12 2010 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

THERE may have been nothing at stake but pride for Ayr and Cardiff in their final pool match in the British and Irish Cup. But the clash at the Arms Park showed just how strong a motivator pride can be.

With their midweek win over Pontypridd, Doncaster had won the pool leaving Ayr and Cardiff to battle for second spot.

To be even thinking in those terms at this stage when both the other Scottish representatives have yet to win a match shows just how Ayr have done themselves and club rugby proud.

Facing a powerful Cardiff outfit, Ayr pulled back from 20-10 down at the break to lead 27-20 going into the final stages, only a last gasp burst by Cardiff and a brave decision by the visitors seeing the points go to the home side.

Appearing at the historic Arms Park could have been a daunting prospect for some but Ayr seemed unaffected as they took the lead after only 90 seconds, Andy Dunlop going over from a set play for Frazier Climo to add the conversion.

Cardiff hit back and Craig Morgan, Dan Preece and Rhys James demonstrated the quality of the Welsh side as they ran in first-half tries.

Ayr rallied after half time with tries by Paul Burke and Andy Wilson with Climo, top scorer in the British and Irish Cup, adding both conversions and a penalty to his first half conversion and penalty to take them into the lead.

Substitute scrum half Tom Slater opened Ayr up in the 60th minute and Gareth Davies's conversion of his try levelled the scores.

Davies edged Cardiff ahead with a penalty three minutes from time but when Ayr had the chance to draw with a penalty well inside Climo's range, they opted for the kick to touch and to go for the win.

The drive off the line-out was held, Cardiff banged the ball out and Ayr's cross border adventure was over-for this season at least.

Coach Kenny Murray admitted: “They were a physical side and had some really useful players but we have learned as this tournament has gone on and we were able to cope pretty well.

"It was disappointing to lose the tries we did in the first half after we had got such a good start but our second half performance shows just how far we have come on.

“We could have kicked the last penalty but we didn't want to settle for the draw so we went for the win but our final drive on the line out didn't quite get over.

"The British and Irish Cup has been a great experience for the players and the coaches because the matches are played with a greater intensity and the pace is higher so we have hopefully benefited from that and can take it into our remaining league and cup matches."

So Ayr can hold their heads high having won two matches in the B & I Cup against Rotherham Titans and Birmingham and Solihull Bees, losing narrowly to Pontypridd and Cardiff with only the opening match against Doncaster Knights proving out of their reach.

As Murray pointed out, the intensity, physicality and pace of these games has taken Ayr up several levels and will stand them in good stead as they now concentrate on the Scottish Hydro Premier One run-in and the Premier Cup which re-commences on Saturday when Stewart’s-Melville come to Millbrae in the second round (kick-off 12 noon).

Ayr have seven games to play in the league and with Currie having stretched their lead to 10 points with a win over Stew-Melville in midweek, the Millbrae men lie second with two games in hand.

It is a huge ask for Murray's squad with the pivotal match now the clash with Currie at Malleny Park so it might be that the cup holds the greater chance of glory.

However, until it is mathematically impossible for Ayr to retain the title, something which might not be decided until the first week of May, the double is still on.