Rugby: Ayr hit back to dump Dundee and keep double bid alive

Apr 23 2010 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

IT gets to a point when you actually run out of ways to describe what this Ayr team has done and could be capable of doing.

Despite looking dead and buried at half time against Dundee HSFP, they came back to score six tries, clinched the bonus point and stay on track for the league and cup double (writes RON EVANS)

Even super optimist coach Kenny Murray had his doubts: “I really have to take my hat of to the lads because I thought that the legs had gone a bit. But they dug deep and with a magnificent performance by the pack in the second half we pulled it off again.”

‘Oh ye of little faith.’ Perhaps that could be levelled at their support by an Ayr side who had been at the wrong end of a high octane performance by Dundee in a first half which saw them go in at the break 10-7 down and looking wabbit.

After conceding a daft try in eight minutes when a guddle at the back of a scrum close to their line had let Andy Dunlop pounce to put Ayr ahead, Dundee took control.

In the second quarter they scored two cracking tries, the first coming after the outstanding Danny Levison had put Greig Ryan away and when the ball was switched right, Ayr had no defenders to stop hooker James Clark going over.

A Ryan thrust was again instrumental in Ross Lemon’s try six minutes later and although James Fleming missed both conversions, Ayr were in trouble with the tank looking not just empty but the fumes about to vanish as well

With Millbrae strangely quiet, Ayr suddenly threw off their lethargy, started to win ball and play in the Dundee danger zone.

Frazier Climo levelled the scores with a penalty but had Cammy Taylor not pulled off a superb try saving tackle on Harry Duthie, Dundee would have again have taken the lead.

That was the turning point because moments later Climo pulled off a trademark try when he ghosted through the Dundee defence and although Barry Jones landed a penalty to keep the margin to two points Ayr’s intense self belief asserted itself in a dramatic two minute spell.

Damien Kelly finished off a move by Dunlop, Paul Burke and Gordon Reid, then Andy Wilson gleefully exploited a mistake in the Dundee twenty two for the bonus point try and although Lemon pulled one back, Ayr now knew the points were in the bag.

Jono Crossan’s score in the final ten minutes was just reward for a tireless afternoon by the flanker, Ross Curle landed his second conversion and Grant Anderson’s superb angle for try number six with ensured that the dream of the double was kept alive at Millbrae.

Against a Dundee side who are arguably the best running side in Premier One this was a huge result, not only in terms of the scoreline but also in the way Ayr pulled themselves back from the brink of defeat to give themselves a massive boost going into the cup final against Melrose at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Murray revealed: “We told the players at half time that all they had to do was get the ball and play the game in Dundee territory and that is exactly what they did.

“The pack were outstanding after having played three intense matches in eight days and we can now go to Murrayfield after a week’s rest knowing that we will be in pretty good shape.”

Dundee coach Ian Rankin expressed his admiration for the way Ayr had played. “I thought we played well against the best club in the country but it was a massive performance by Ayr. We were going well but the power of the Ayr pack in the last quarter shows just why they are at the top of the table.”

And so to Murrayfield for a match which not only gives Ayr the chance to lift the cup for the first time in their history but, since it has been agreed that the match will be played as a cup and league double header, vital points are at stake as well.

Club president Billy McHarg reflected: “It has been a tough couple of weeks for the team and they might feel tiredness creeping in but adrenaline and self belief will see them through. I have no doubt that they will take the points and the cup.”

Director of Rugby Jock Craig, who was in the only other Ayr side to have graced the pitch at the national stadium when, in 1972, an Ayr side played Edinburgh Wanderers in a club fixture when the back pitches were frozen, said: “The team have shown outstanding commitment in their last four games and despite what is at stake the final is a day to enjoy and remember and I know the lads will not the club and the support down.”

Murray added: “We hope Murrayfield will be a sea of pink and black on Saturday at 4pm Just getting on the pitch for the cup final is a huge occasion for the players but it is a great thing for the club and the whole town as well.

“We have had a tough couple of weeks and still have a very hard run in but we are resilient and we have proved that we are a big game side and when we need to win games we manage to do it.

“We have shown the determination in the side by the way we have won a lot of our games recently by coming from behind to win but hopefully we won’t make our great support too nervous on Saturday.”

Another chapter will be written in the history of the club on Saturday and if Ayr’s name is inscribed on the cup after the final then it will be no more than Damien Kelly and his men deserve.

Team against Dundee: G Anderson; J McClung, R Curle, M Stewart, C Taylor; F Climo, J Hunter; G Reid, P MacArthur, G Sykes, D Kelly, S Sutherland, J Crossan, A Dunlop,, G Tippett Subs P Burke, S Nimmo, S Adair, AJ MacFarlane, A Wilson.